If, on the other hand, the courts rule against holding new elections, an outcome that seems more likely, there shall be a swearing-in ceremony for Kenyatta and Kenya will go back to business as usual, we hope
Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday declared the results of last month’s presidential poll “invalid, null and void” and ordered the election be re-run within 60 days.
“The presidential election held on August 8 was not conducted in accordance with the constitution,” said Chief Justice David Maraga, ruling in favour of the opposition which challenged the declaration of President Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner.
Maraga said this was a majority decision, with two judges dissenting.
The shock ruling was a rare example of a poll result being overturned, with Maraga saying the election commission (IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution”.
He validated opposition leader Raila Odinga’s argument that there had been “irregularities and illegalities”, notably in the transmission of election results.
Maraga said this had compromised the “integrity of the entire presidential election”.
Odinga hailed the decision as historic.
“This is a historic day for the people of Kenya and by extension for the people of the continent of Africa,” said Odinga, adding it was the first time a presidential result had been overturned in Africa.
“We are ready for elections but we don’t have confidence” in the electoral commission, he added.
“Those commissioners must go,” said Odinga. “Most of them belong in jail.” – Agence France-Presse