AU praises Kenya's elections

"By turning out in their millions, they have made the people of Africa proud and have secured the Kenya they want," said Dlamini Zuma in a statement.

She also congratulated President-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta, the Vice President-elect William Ruto and the Jubilee Coalition for winning the elections.

"We salute all participating candidates and parties for their contributions towards this important democratic process, held under Kenya's new Constitution," she said.

Dlamini Zuma went on to praise the Independent Electoral and Border Commission, for conducting what was clearly a complex electoral process.

Kenya's electoral body declared Kenyatta President of the Republic of Kenya on Saturday (9 March) after he won by 6.17 million votes to beat his closest challenger Raila Odinga in historic elections held on 4 March, the very first to be organised under Kenya's 2010 constitution.

However the results were challenged by the defeated Odinga, who said after the official announcement, that the election was "tainted," and that he plans to challenge the election results in court.

Dlamini Zuma said she encouraged those who have raised concerns with the electoral processes to continue to work through legal processes.

The March polls were the very first to be held since the 2007/2008 post-election violence, when, within a 7-week period following the election - and as a direct consequence of the contested results - thousands of civilians became victims of serious crimes, including killings, sexual and gender-based violence, forced internal displacements and destruction of properties.

"The AU Commission and indeed the people of the continent are proud of the achievements of the Kenyan people, and are certain that they will continue to maintain calm and peace," it said.