Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki looks to have suffered a humiliating defeat from a constitution referendum that galvanised disillusionment with him ahead of a 2007 poll.
Counting from yesterday's plebiscite on a new constitution backed by Mr Kibaki gave his rivals an unassailable lead with about 60 per cent of votes from a referendum that divided his government and deepened tribal tensions in the east African nation.
Tom Kajwang, a senior official from the "No" team, which claimed victory.
Supporters said the charter would make the president more answerable to parliament. It would also have given women equal inheritance rights, banned abortion unless permitted by an act of parliament, and prohibited same-sex marriages.
But figures issued by the Electoral Commission showed the "No" camp on 3.2 million votes, against 2.2 million for "Yes", with just 854,000 votes left to count at 8.30am (6.30 Irish time). Turnout was 54 per cent.
"We have blown the trumpet and sent for the suits and champagne," Tom Kajwang, a senior official from the "No" team, which claimed victory at the main counting centre, said.
Critics say the proposed text failed to curb the president's huge powers, a major issue in a country fractured by years of "big man" rule involving graft and tribalism.