LIVE TEXT: Kenya holds referendum on new law

17:00: The referendum poll closes and tallying begins countrywide, except in the polling stations where voting began later than the opening time. As noted, IIEC will be giving hourly updates beginning from 6pm. Check our site for live updates of the tally.

16:50: Uwiano Platform for Peace , an organisation working with the Government to monitor cases of incitement and violence during the referendum voter says that areas identified as potential hotspots are peaceful.

16:37: Obama speaks about Kenya as he talked at a town hall meeting with Kenya, reports Kevin J. Kelley: "Explaining that he had organised the three-day forum with the aim of “helping to strengthen grassroots networks of young people,” Mr Obama noted with a smile, “As they’re saying in Kenya today —”Yes, Youth Can! Yes, Youth Can!”

16:17: We shall be relaying the referendum results live on nation.co.ke from 17:00 (GMT+3.)

16:14: It's less than an hour to close of voting. IIEC will be giving hourly updates from 6pm, after the tallying process begins.

15:58: mtotowajirani on Twitter: "Most international media focussing on 'voting amid tight security'. They're itching for bloodshed...NOT happening!"

15:54: Mwerevus comments on our story: "I am a Kenyan in the diaspora and would be most grateful if the Government could ensure that we in the diaspora are able to cast our votes by the 2012 elections. IIEC, keep up the good work."

15:45: An election observer group, ELOG, gives a situational report on the referendum vote so far: "ELOG would like to call for a speedy resolution of any pending issues which may bar observers from accessing the polling station...to expedite its communication between the headquarters and its officers on the ground...Lapses in communication...have so far affected the observation process...Overall, ELOG would like to commend the IIEC for smooth management of the process so far."

15:36: Nation editor Charles Onyango Obbo writes on his blog: " I noticed a lot more of the middle class types, and the Kenyan bourgeoisie with their straw hats and Ray Ban sunglasses, out voting. These are the kind of people who stay away from the voter centres during elections, because there is often a lot of tension....My own sense is that that is good news for President Mwai Kibaki. The middle classes have most to benefit from this constitution."

15:29: coldtusker tweets:  "Some #Kenya voters plan to vote at 4pm. The will complain about the lines! Go now, dont wait till last minute!"

15:20: Check out the gallery of images of people voting from across the country on our site

15:17: A reader notes on Nation's website "Monitoring this from Australia, Kenyans let us choose our destiny. Whatever the outcome we need to remain peaceful. - Blessings, Joe"

15:06: It's less than two hours before voting closes. In many of the polling stations around the country, where they are queues, they are noticeably shorter.

14:42: Prime Minister Raila Odinga asks the two opposing sides in the referendum to be ready to accept the voters’ verdict, report Nation's Alphonce Shiundu and Walter Menya. Raila spoke at the Bomas of Kenya, which has been turned into the National Referendum Tallying Centre

14:35: Kenya's First Lady Lucy Kibaki voted at Othaya's Munaini Primary School at one in the afternoon, two hours after President Kibaki voted at the same venue.

14:30: Voting closes in less than three hours now; an exercise that has largely been smooth and peaceful. Maybe the reason Wanjiku writes on her twitter post: "Apparently the international media in Nairobi r bored because there is no "action" how sad!"

14:00 General Service Unit personnel continue to be deployed at the national tallying centre in Bomas, three hours before polls close at 5 p.m, according to Nation reporters Walter Menya and Alphonce Shiundu.

13: 58 Area Returning Officer Moses Sarara said the IIEC had mobilised tractors and motorbikes to assist in transportation and urged voters in the affected voters to bear with the electoral body.