By Jane Nambi

As the country begins voting for the next president, violence has already broken out in the country in Mombasa with ten people killed in violence.

Of the ten killed, five were police men. Today marks the beginning of the elections which will see the next president of the country. However, at 2am Monday, police in Mombasa reported an attack by a gang of dozens. They were cut with pangas to their death. On Sunday, police warned of criminals who intended to dress up in police uniforms to disrupt voting in some locations.

At the same time, intelligence on the Somali-Kenya border talked of Somali militants who were planning to attack during the voting process.

Garissa County Commissioner, Mohamed Ahmed Maalim on Sunday said that intelligence gathered talked about plans by Somali militants to carry out a series of attack including kidnappings. “They are planning to interrupt the elections, but we will not allow them do so,” he said. To avoid possible attacks, Maalim said 300 specialized troops known as GSU are patrolling the Dadaab refugee camp, where more than 400,000 Somalis live.

As early as 6pm, polling stations had been opened and voters had already started lining up to vote.

There are eight candidates vying for the presidency, Raila Odinga, the Kenyan prime minister, and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi (Amani), Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), Peter Kenneth (Eagle), James ole Kiyiapi (RBK), Paul Muite (Safina) and Mohamed Abduda Dida (ARK) although Odinga and Kenyatta are running head to head and the battle is really mostly between the two of them.

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Kenya Presidential Elections 2013 – Updates