Click Here for a Laugh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHeRCbZ9-9M Kenyans are voting in an election that observers describe as the most important in the country's history. It is the first time a vote has taken place under a new constitution, designed to prevent a repeat of violence that followed the 2007 polls. More than 1,000 people died in widespread ethnic violence when supporters of rival candidates clashed. Despite appeals for calm, five police officers died when they were attacked near Mombasa on Monday. At least six other people - including several attackers - are also reported to have died in the assault in the early hours in Changamwe, half an hour's drive inland from the centre of Mombasa. There have been further disturbances in the town of Kilifi, north of Mombasa, where two civilians were among six shot dead, but details remain sketchy. Presidential prize Continue reading the main story At the scene James Copnall BBC News, Eldoret, Kenya They began queuing under the stars more than an hour before the polling station opened. One elderly woman sat in a plastic chair and the rest formed a neat line snaking out into the darkness. Most people were wearing coats or jumpers to ward off the morning chill. It's best to be early, one man said. An illustrated poster on the wall of the polling station, which in normal life is a primary school, explains the voting process. After the polling station opened, the line of voters extended half way across the school's football pitch. Reports from around the country suggested long lines of voters were forming even before polling stations opened. Some technical difficulties were reported with newly instituted biometric voting kits - designed to counter claims of vote-rigging and long delays in announcing poll results that were partly blamed for the violence last time. In places, electoral officials are having to use the manual voter registers, delaying voting. The BBC's Bashkas Jugsodaay in Garissa says there were three explosions in three different polling stations in Mandera, a town on the border with Somalia, as officials were preparing for polls to open. A number of people were injured. Waiting in line outside polling stations in Nairobi hours before polls opened, the atmosphere was calm and people chanted "peace", reports the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in the capital. Kenyans will choose a president, members of parliament and senators, county governors and members of 47 county assemblies. However, our correspondent says all eyes are on the presidency. Eight candidates are standing but it is essentially a two-horse race pitting Prime Minister Raila Odinga against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, he says. Continue reading the main story Uhuru Kenyatta Son of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta Due to stand trial at ICC in April accused of organising violence in last election His running mate, William Ruto, also accused Both deny the charges From Kikuyu ethnic group - Kenya's largest at 22% of population and powerful economically Kikuyus and Ruto's Kalenjin community saw fierce clashes after 2007 poll Currently deputy prime minister Raila Odinga Raila Odinga son of first Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Distant relative of Barack Obama Believes he was cheated of victory in last election From Luo community in western Kenya - 11% of population. Some Luos feel they have been marginalised by central government Third time running for president Currently prime minister under power-sharing deal to end violence last time Profile: Uhuru Kenyatta Profile: Raila Odinga Some observers say they are particularly concerned about violence erupting should neither of the two frontrunners poll more than 50% - in which case the vote will go to a run-off, probably on 11 April. Mr Kenyatta, son of Kenya's founding father Jomo Kenyatta, is due to stand trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged role in orchestrating the violence five years ago. Mr Kenyatta's running mate, William Ruto, has also been indicted by the court. Both men deny any wrongdoing. The post-election violence of 2007-8 broke out after Mr Odinga claimed he had been cheated of victory by supporters of President Kibaki. Supporters of the rival candidates, from different ethnic groups, took up arms against each other. Mr Odinga later joined a government of national unity under a peace deal. The underlying sources of tension in the 2007-8 election remain, and in some parts have escalated, with the risk of violence "perilously high", warns Human Rights Watch. It says "near total impunity" of the perpetrators of violence has left them free to rape and kill again. There have also been warnings of attempts by Somali militants and common criminals to disrupt the vote. Click Here for a Laugh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHeRCbZ9-9M

• published: 31 Dec 2013