Kenya votes "Yes" to new constitution

Kenya's electoral authority officially ratified a proposed constitution on Thursday after 67 percent of votes cast approved the charter that could rewrite the political landscape of east Africa's biggest economy.

A key concern in the Kenya constitution vote is ethnic divisions. But in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, where much of the 2008 postelection violence occurred, voters were calm and even top 'no' vote politicians accepted the results.

Leaders of the "yes" camp in Kenya's referendum for a new constitution declared victory Thursday after a ballot that defied fears of a repeat of the violence that hit the nation's last elections.

The "yes" camp in Kenya's referendum for a new constitution declared victory Thursday following a ballot that belied fears of a repeat of the chaos that marred the nation's last elections.

The "yes" camp in Kenya's referendum for a new constitution declared victory Thursday following a ballot that belied fears of a repeat of the chaos that marred the nation's last elections.

Kenyas new constitution, written to address a flawed system that has exacerbated ethnic rifts, passed overwhelmingly, according to provisional results.

Kenya's economy was last night left looking for leads on the direction it would take in the outcome of a constitutional referendum today, amid optimism a "Yes" win would boost investor confidence and cheer local currency and stock market.

The "yes" camp declared victory in Kenya's referendum on a new more democratic constitution after more than two thirds of the ballots were counted Thursday.

ELDORET, Kenya (Reuters) - Kenyans voted in favor of a new constitution in a peaceful referendum that could reshape the political landscape of east Africa's largest economy, according to partial results published on Thursday.

Kenya looked set to back a new constitution Thursday with the "yes" camp comfortably leading in the vote count after a referendum that belied fears of renewed violence.

Kenyas new constitution, written to address a flawed system that has exacerbated ethnic rifts, passed overwhelmingly, according to provisional results.

Supporters of Kenya's proposed new constitution have mustered twice as many votes as its opponents.

Kenya will resume its weekly coffee auctions on Aug. 10, after a seven-week break, with an offer of about 30,000 50-kilogram (110-pound) bags, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange said.

Supporters of Kenya's proposed new constitution have mustered twice as many votes as its opponents with more than six million ballots already tallied, provisional results showed.

Leading opponents of Kenya's proposed constitution conceded defeat Thursday, sealing the victory for a referendum that could bring major changes to East Africa's largest economy.

Election officials in Kenya say preliminary results are coming in overwhelmingly in favour of a new constitution.

Kenya looked set to acquire a new constitution for the first time since independence as the "yes" camp Thursday confortably led in the vote count after a referendum that belied fears of renewed violence.

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya was poised to adopt a new constitution after partial results on Thursday showed more than two-thirds of votes cast in a referendum favoured a law that could reshape the politics of east Africa's largest economy.

If Kenya gets a new constitution, it will be because of the millions of voters who took part in the referendum on Wednesday.