Security has been stepped up across the
country
Polls are due to open in Kenya in what observers
are describing as the most important election in the country's history.
It is the first time a vote has taken place under a new constitution, designed to prevent a repeat of violence that followed the 2007 polls.
More than 1,000 people died when supporters of rival candidates clashed over a contested result.
Security has been stepped up and candidates have appealed for calm.
Kenyans will choose a president, members of parliament and senators, county governors and members of the newly-formed county assembly.
However, the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in the capital Nairobi says all eyes are on the presidency.
Eight candidates are standing but it is essentially a two-horse race pitting Prime Minister Raila Odinga against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, he says.
Mr Kenyatta, son of Kenya's founding father Jomo Kenyatta, is due to stand trial at the International Criminal Court for his alleged role in orchestrating the violence five years ago.
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Election in numbers
- 14 million registered voters
- Eight presidential candidates
- 99,000 police officers being deployed
- First election under new constitution
- Winning presidential candidates need 50% of vote + 25% in half of 47 counties
- Voters will get ballot papers for 6 different elections
- 100,000 people still living in camps after violence followed 2007 poll
- Uhuru Kenyatta among the favourites despite facing trial at the ICC, where he is accused of crimes against humanity over last election
- Viewpoint: Too busy tweeting to vote?
- Q&A: Kenya’s 2013 elections
Mr Kenyatta's running mate,
William Ruto, has also been indicted by the court. Both men deny any
wrongdoing.
In the run-up to Monday's vote, President Mwai Kibaki - who
is not seeking re-election - urged Kenyans to vote peacefully and for
the losers to accept defeat."Cast your vote and keep the peace," he said in a televised address to the nation on Friday.
"Let us send a clear message to the world that our democracy has come of age. A peaceful vote is a vote for a secure, prosperous and stable Kenya."
Candidates have also promised to respect the result and urged their supporters to refrain from violence.
Clerics across Kenya also gave sermons dedicated to peace on Sunday.
The police, however, have warned of conspiracies to cause chaos - in Nairobi and elsewhere - and have made it clear that violence will not be tolerated.
The post-election violence of 2007-8 broke out after Mr Odinga claimed he had been cheated of victory by supporters of President Kibaki.
Supporters of the rival candidates, from different ethnic groups, took up arms against each other.
Mr Odinga later joined a government of national unity under a peace deal.
Security is being stepped up with some 99,000 police officers being deployed around the country, at polling stations and vote-counting centres.
The polling stations are open from 06:00 to 18:00 local time (03:00-15:00 GMT).
Presidential candidates must secure support from across the country to be declared the winner, so they cannot just rely on support from their ethnic groups, as has been the case in previous elections.
Official results will be announced by 11 March by the electoral commission.
If no candidate obtains more than 50% of the vote there will be a run-off on 11 April.
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