Lord make me an instrument of your peace, Raila's prayer ahead of poll results

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga. [File, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga has urged Kenyans to maintain peace and unity ahead of the announcement of the presidential results.

Odinga has spoken to the public for the first time since Tuesday's election.

While addressing believers at St. Francis ACK church in Karen, the fifth-time presidential hopeful quoted a prayer by St Francis of Assisi which he said was what Kenyans needed at the time.

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon...," he read the prayer by St. Francis, one of the most venerated religious figures in Roman Catholic history.

"Those words are very true for our situation here today. Let us maintain peace, and unity and keep the hope alive,"

Odinga spoke amidst a buildup of tension and anxiety amongst Kenyans who are eagerly waiting for the electoral commission's announcement on the presidential election results.

With almost half of the results from the presidential election now confirmed, the two main candidates are running neck and neck.

As of Sunday midday, Deputy President William Ruto had taken a slight lead over ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga with 51 per cent against 48 per cent.

The head of the electoral commission has admitted that announcing the result of Tuesday's election is too slow.

The verification of results has been stopped several times after complaints by supporters of the main candidates.

The electoral body has until Tuesday, to declare the winner of round one of the election.

The winner needs at least (50%+1) of the votes cast and over 25 per cent of votes in at least 24 counties.