Former President John Mahama has confessed it is not easy to lose an election, but has urged Kenyans to protect the peace ahead of the declaration of the official results.

“It is not easy to lose an election [because] it can be very disappointing,” Mahama told the Kenyan media.

Mahama is part of international observers in the Eastern African country monitoring the crucial polls, which have put incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party ahead of his arch rival Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance.

The opposition is already claiming victory breeding an uneasy calm in the country.

Mahama is appealing to both leaders to remain calm because one earns more respect as a “gracious loser.”

“All Kenyans should be patient [and] let the process play out,” Mahama, who lost the 2016 elections to Akufo-Addo stressed.

He added: “Party stakeholders must exercise patience and let’s see that process through…No Kenya blood must be shared because someone disagreed with the electoral process.”