Kenyans have overwhelmingly voted for a new constitution.

The constitution was endorsed by a massive 5 954 767 votes representing 67.2 percent of those who cast their votes.

Those who rejected the draft were 2 687 183 or 30.35 percent.

Releasing the results, IIEC chairman Isaak Hassan said the new constitution had been approved by more 50 percent of all the votes cast apart from garnering more than 455 support from all the provinces in the country.

Thus he declared that the proposed new constitution had been ratified.

Hassan commended Kenyans for coming out in large numbers to participate in the referendum and exercise their democratic rights peacefully while respecting those with divergent views.

He said the IIEC had registered more than 12.5 million voters out of which close to 8 million or 71 percent turned out to vote in the referendum.

He commended the government, media and other stakeholders who supported the organization’s efforts, singling out the media for carrying out civic education on the process.

Hassan revisited the setting up of the organization as part of the reform process saying the move was aimed at restoring people’s confidence in Kenya’s electoral process.

The organisation’s mandate should cease to exist three months after new constitution or after 24 months whichever comes earlier.

It had been mandated to conduct fresh registration of voters, create new registers, collate data, conduct civic education and carry out a referendum.

CAROL MUTHONDU