The Kenyan government suffered a stunning blow after voters emphatically rejected a new constitution, according to results released yesterday.

President Mwai Kibaki and his allies put their reputations on the line by backing the much-criticised draft charter, describing the proposed constitution as a "government project". But after weeks of highly charged campaigning, marred by tribal rhetoric, sporadic violence and eight deaths, 57 per cent of those who cast ballots on Monday voted against the new constitution.