NAIROBI, Nov. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The Kenyan government has conceded defeat in a referendum on a proposed constitution supported by President Mwai Kibaki, the government spokesman said Tuesday.

    With most of the ballots counted, opponents of the draft constitution have an unassailable lead of more than a million votes, government spokesman Alfred Mutua said.

    The latest results given by the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) officials show that opponents of the proposed charter had won3,379,730 votes, or 58 percent of ballots that had been counted by Tuesday afternoon. Supporters garnered 2,377,573 votes, or 41 percent.

    The results were from 196 of Kenya's 210 constituencies. The remaining 14 constituencies have a total registered votes of 524,234 and includes two constituencies voting today in North Eastern,according to Mutua.

    Monday's referendum will be decided by a simple majority of votes cast and there is no minimum voter turnout to make it valid.

    Millions of eligible Kenyans voted Monday at more than 19,000 polling stations across the country with a population of 34 million in the country's first referendum since independence from Britain. They cast ballots marked with a banana for "Yes" and an orange for "No."

    The election commission said the voting was generally peaceful and had gone pretty smoothly.

    Police spokesman Jaspher Ombati said over 20 people had been arrested in connection with different election offenses and police were continuing investigations.

    The debate on Kenya's draft constitution has split President Mwai Kibaki's administration.

    The most obvious split has been within Kibaki's shaky coalition, with at least seven ministers joining ranks with the opposition to campaign for a "No" vote, while the president and his supporters promote the "Yes" vote.

    Opponents say the draft constitution would do little to curb the all-powerful presidency or alter the system of government.

    Supporters say the president would be more answerable to parliament.

    Analysts say the campaign could be a defining moment for Kibaki's ruling National Rainbow Coalition (NARC).

    The NARC won in 2002 on a wave of euphoria after 24 years of rule by strongman president Daniel arap Moi, but now is in a precarious position because of growing public dissatisfaction. Enditem