video transcript

Forty kilometres southwest of Nairobi, members of the Maasai community vote for their next president. An electoral officer said that although some voters were ignorant of Kenya's new election regulations, people here still turned out in force to have their voices heard in the Monday vote. They are choosing from among six leaders, including current Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his main opponent Uhuru Kenyatta. Observers are hoping the tight race between the two frontrunners will not lead to further violence after at least 15 people died in Kenya's eastern coastal region earlier Monday. In this village, most of the community consists of nomads who raise livestock. Voters say development and peace are their top priorities. (SOUNDBITE)(Kiswahili) VOTER, JONATHAN SIPALA, SAYING: "We want leaders who will bring us developments like schools, dispensaries, roads and water." (SOUNDBITE)(Kiswahili VOTER, MARY KARBALI, SAYING: "I would like to ask people to vote in peace and elect people who will take us forwards." A runoff vote is scheduled in April if there is no clear winner in the first round.