LIVE: 'Yes' opens wide lead in Kenya referendum

21:44 The No Campaign addresses a news conference outside the Bomas auditorium and accuses IIEC of cosnpiring with the Yes campaign to rig referendum results. They say the exercise is marred by irregularities. NCCK secretary-general Peter Karanja declares that the No referendum committee "won't accept rigged results."

21:20: Vote tally at 2,968,325 for Yes against No's 1,509,105. Total 4,476,822. Polling stations are 12,444 out of 20,750 targeted polling stations. The rest will file results manually. More than half of the targeted polling stations are, therefore, in

21:15 The angry No MPs are joined by NCCK secretary-general Peter Karanja and former MP Njeru Kathangu. They are in a meeting with IIEC chairman Isaack Hassan. Police were on high alert and averted an ugly confrontation.

21:10: Tally as at now: Yes 2,680,897 No 1,393,604. Total: 4,074,501. There now 11,859 polling stations whose votes have been counted, out of over 27,000 centres.

21:08: Assistant minister Linah Jebii Kilimo and MPs Julius Kones and David Koech confront IIEC officials and accuse them of rigging elections in favour of the 'Yes' campaign. The MPs question the technical hitch in the transmission of results. The MPs claim their agents have been sidelined. Dr Kones says their intelligence on the ground shows that the No team is ahead in Eastern, Rift Valley Provinces by a big margin. Nation's Emeka-Mayaka.

21:01: Total tally now is Yes 1,876,469 No 1,060,996. Total votes counted 2,937,465

21:01: Results per Province: Central: Yes 297,868 No 45,430. Coast: Yes 93,089 No 24,211. Rift Valley: Yes 214,962 No 597,556. Eastern: Yes 280,290, No 215,393. Western: Yes 297,477 No 58,447. North Eastern: Yes 43,322 No 1,689. Nyanza: Yes 507,162 No 41,525. Nairobi: Yes 98,954 No 48,480.

20:50: Provisional results coming up now: Yes has 1,791,196. No 1,006,513. Total votes cast 2,797,709. Rejected 57,613.

20:44: Dr Julius Kones of No camp says the results are encouraging and that with time the No side will be able to catch up. He is at the venue with the No chief agent, David Koech, who is the Mosop area MP. "Anxiety goes down and the tune changes to 'Habana', a south African tune. Being belted out by ladies with beautiful voices" says Alphonce Shiundu.

20:39: 56, 568 votes have been rejected. Clapping going on in the auditorium as Yes supporters sitting in the podium cheer. Provincial results now scrolling on the screen. 664 votes are in dispute.

20:35: IIEC chairman says the screen displays to resume. And the mood there is expectant, says Emeka-Gekara.

20:30: IIEC announces provisional results for the referendum vote, of the 8,911 polling centres counted so far. 1,745,633 for Yes (63.8 per cent) and No with 990,088 (36.2 per cent). Total votes 2,735, 721. Counting continues

20:25: Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni strolls into the auditorium adorned in a cream suit and a matching cowboy hat, cream as well. Former KNCHR chair Maina Kiai lives to his legendary African attire, this time dressed in a Nigerian Agbada, notes Walter Menya.

20:19: Technical hitch in the display of results now enters the first hour. No explanation forthcoming from the IIEC. It is now about 20 minutes from the earlier promised 8:00pm press briefing. The display was supposed to have resumed 20 minutes ago - Nation's Emeka-Mayaka Gekara

20:02: "Relaxing and soothing African ballads by Kayamba Africa dressed in brown printed shirts and black trousers entertain guests at the Bomas of Kenya as crowd awaits IIEC update any time from now" - Joy Wanja

19:59: Head of EU delegation Eric van der Linden, chairman of Kenya's Boundaries Review Commission Andrew Ligale and French ambassador to the country Elisabeth Barbier are at the Bomas of Kenya venue.

19:57: Nation online reader Paparazzione comments: "I love NMG for keeping us informed. I am out of the country and sadly missed this historic moment. Thanks Kenyans for being peaceful. Reforms will make us the best in the world! God Bless Kenya."

19:54: She adds: "Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno arrives adorning a black scarf and an overcoat to keep away the cold night chill." Well, it is a cold night here, and has been chilly for most of the day here in the city.