Kenya’s reigning president Uhuru Kenyatta has been re-elected following Tuesday’s election, the BBC reports.

Mr Kenyatta who has been in office since 2013, had the last laugh after running away with 54.3% of votes ahead of his rival Raila Odinga with 44.7%.

After the announcement, Mr Kenyatta called for unity, telling opposition supporters: “I reach out to you… We are all citizens of the same republic”.

But the opposition rejected the results even before they were declared, calling the process a “charade”.

However, it has been endorsed by international observers. Mr Kenyatta said they had ensured a “free, fair and credible election”.

Angry protests have started in the city of Kisumu – an opposition stronghold – and in various slums of the capital Nairobi, including Kibera, where businesses are said to have been attacked.

Police, who were deployed in anticipation of the results, have fired tear gas in several locations.