Kenyatta becomes Kenya's fourth president

President elect Uhuru Kenyatta (L) and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Issack Hassan stand for the national anthem at the Bomas of Kenya in capital Nairobi, March 9, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

NAIROBI - Kenya's electoral body on Saturday declared Uhuru Kenyatta as the President of the Republic of Kenya after gaining 6.17 million votes to beat his closest challenger Raila Odinga in the historic elections held on March 4.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Isaack Hassan said Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's founding father, won the tenth elections since independence by attaining the legal threshold required in law.

"I therefore declare Uhuru Kenyatta the duly elected president of the Republic of Kenya," Hassan told the nation in a live television address.

He said Kenyatta attained 25 percent in 32 out of 47 counties required to avoid a run-off.