Raila Odinga, Kenya’s opposition leader, has accused his rival, President Uhuru Kenyatta, of pulling off a “massive” fraud to steal elections, triggering protests in western Kenya and Nairobi.

With just four polling stations still to declare, Mr Kenyatta retained a commanding lead of 54 per cent to Mr Odinga’s 44 per cent in the presidential vote, giving him a margin of 1.4 million votes.

Appearing tired and harried at a press conference, Mr Odinga, 72, alleged that hackers penetrated the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers, manipulating results as they appeared in a live stream. He claimed that an internal tally by his party, Nasa, put him ahead of the incumbent by nearly a million votes.

He also linked the death of a senior election official, found strangled and tortured a week before the polls, to the alleged penetration of electoral servers.

Elections are being closely watched in East Africa’s most stable democracy, where the memory of the bloodshed that ensued after the 2007 elections, when Mr Odinga claimed victory was stolen from him, is still raw. Deadly violence along ethnic lines left more than 1,200 dead and 600,000 displaced.

Within hours of Mr Odinga’s statement, protests erupted in opposition strongholds in Kisumu, Mombasa and Nairobi, with reports of three people killed across the country. In the Nairobi slum of Mathare, angry voters poured onto the streets, and three were shot dead by police. Officers said the men were looting. Tensions also started to pick up in Kibera, a sprawling slum that is strongly supportive of Mr Odinga, with protesters gathering in large crowds, and burning tyres.

The electoral commission last night robustly defended the electoral process, saying that its systems were secure, with “no interferences before, during and after” Tuesday’s election.

Earlier Mr Odinga, making his fourth and probably last stab at the presidency, said that unknown persons had “conspired and executed a scheme to deny Kenyans their democratic right to elect their leaders.”

“From the information in our possession, some persons gained entry into the IEBC [electoral board] election management database and assumed the role of our collective sovereign,” he added.

He went on to say that hackers had installed an algorithm that maintained a roughly 11 percent gap between the candidates as results came in. He said that the hackers had used the login of Chris Msando, the murdered official, but did not reveal where he obtained the information.

In Kibera, a sprawling slum that backs up against affluent Nairobi neighbourhoods, anxious supporters huddled around television sets to listen to Mr Odinga speak. He called for calm, but added, “I do not control the people.” Kalonzo Musyoka, his running mate, also urged calm as they looked into the matter of alleged fraud, but added, “there may come a time we may have to call you into action.”

Many fear protests could spread, with opposition voters led to believe before the election that they couldn’t lose. In Kibera, the mood started to turn increasingly ugly within hours of Mr Odinga’s comments, but supporters said they were waiting for the word from the opposition’s leadership before taking to the streets.

“We’ve always being played,” said Jane Auko, a 40-year-old teacher, in Kibera. “We never know if the election has been stolen [or not] … but today we know the truth. We are running out of patience.”

Others appeared ready to fight. “It’s better to die for our rights,” said Lawrence Namai, 18. “If there’s no justice, there’s no peace.”

Riots break out after Kenya election's contested result

The mood was in sharp contrast to the previous day, when voters on both sides of the divide said they hoped the country would not erupt in the same kind of tribal violence seen in previous elections. Mr Kenyatta represents the Kikuyu elite, which for the last three presidencies out of four, has held power, while Mr Odinga is allied to the Luo community of western Kenya.

Human rights bodies appeared to support Mr Odinga’s claims that the vote might be flawed. Key to the final result, and its acceptance by both sides, will be the publication of the 34A and B forms from voting stations, handwritten results that are by law required to be scanned and submitted to the IEBC at the time the votes come in by text message.

The Kenyan Human Rights Commission (KHRC), a non-governmental body, said that it had collected thousands of forms from its own observers that did not agree with results on the IEBC’s website.

KHRC’s Maina Kiai said that the differences by polling station were not much - between eight and 10 votes in the sheets they'd seen - but multiplied by thousands of polling stations they could start to add up, although unlikely by enough to make a significant dent on Mr Kenyatta's lead. The victor must garner one vote more than 50 percent to win, and at least a quarter of the vote in 24 of Kenya’s 47 counties.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 11 August 2020 French Prime Minister Jean Castex is helped by a member of staff to put a protective suit on prior to his visit at the CHU hospital in Montpellier AFP via Getty World news in pictures 10 August 2020 Locals harvest their potatoes as Mount Sinabung spews volcanic ash in Karo, North Sumatra province, Indonesia Antara Foto/Reuters World news in pictures 9 August 2020 Doves fly over the Peace Statue at Nagasaki Peace Park during the memorial ceremony held for the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing EPA World news in pictures 8 August 2020 Anti-government protesters try to remove concrete wall that installed by security forces to prevent protesters reaching the Parliament square, during a protest against the political elites and the government after this week's deadly explosion in Beirut AP World news in pictures 7 August 2020 A protester throws a stone towards Israeli forces in the village of Turmus Aya, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, following a march by Palestinians against the building of Israeli settlements AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 August 2020 A woman yells as soldiers block a road for French President Emmanuel Macron's visit the Gemmayzeh neighborhood. The area in Beirut suffered extensive damage from the explosion at the seaport AP World news in pictures 5 August 2020 Damage at the site of Tuesday's blast in Beirut's port area, Lebanon Reuters World news in pictures 4 August 2020 A large explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The blast, which rattled entire buildings and broke glass, was felt in several parts of the city AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 August 2020 A general view shows the new road bridge in Genoa, Italy ahead of its official inauguration, after it was rebuilt following its collapse on August 14, 2018 which killed 43 people Reuters World news in pictures 2 August 2020 Empty stall spaces are seen hours before a citywide curfew is introduced in Melbourne, Australia EPA World news in pictures 1 August 2020 People take part in a demonstration by the initiative "Querdenken-711" with the slogan "the end of the pandemic - the day of freedom" to protest against the current measurements to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Berlin, Germany AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 July 2020 Pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand mosque in Mecca. Muslim pilgrims converged today on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat for the climax of this year's hajj, the smallest in modern times and a sharp contrast to the massive crowds of previous years Saudi Ministry of Media/AFP World news in pictures 30 July 2020 The Mars 2020 Perseverance mission lifts off at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The mission is part of the USA's largest moon to Mars exploration. Nasa will attempt to establish a sustained human presence on and around the moon by 2028 through their Artemis programme EPA World news in pictures 29 July 2020 A woman refreshes herself in a outdoor pool in summer temperatures in Ehingen, Germany dpa via AP World news in pictures 28 July 2020 Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak speaks to the media after he was found guilty in his corruption trial in Kuala Lumpur AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 July 2020 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un poses for a photograph after conferring commemorative pistols to leading commanding officers of the armed forces on the 67th anniversary of the "Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War". Which marks the signing of the Korean War armistice KCNA via Reuters

There are also a high number of rejected votes, which, again, do not always tally with the original forms, Mr Kiai said. In one constituency in Nandi Hills in the Rift Valley, the IEBC recorded rejected votes as 439, but the polling station’s form seen by the human rights body showed nine votes had been rejected. Nearly 400,000 votes in all have been spoiled, according to the IEBC.

By early evening, only a handful of forms had been uploaded onto the IEBC website, and they tallied with reported results.

Kenya's election commission said it would look into Mr Odinga's allegations. "For now, I cannot say whether or not the system has been hacked," said Wafula Chebukati, the commission chairman, but it denied that any passwords had been compromised.

Rafael Tuju, a top official in Mr Kenyatta's party, said the opposition's claims were unfounded, and urged them to concede defeat.

In a statement, international observers, including a mission led by former US Secretary of State John Kerry, urged people to stay calm and let the IEBC work freely to count the votes. Mr Kerry said that the electoral process seemed “very, very strong.”

But Mr Kiai said that if the electoral commission did find discrepancies, it would face a conundrum.