Kenya, a USA ally in the fight against Islamists and East Africa’s biggest economy, is a trade gateway for the region.
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Judges ruled by a majority of four to two that the win by President Uhuru Kenyatta was “null and void” as a result of irregularities committed by the election board.
“The first respondent (the election board) failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution”.
Worldwide observers had said they saw no sign of manipulation of voting and tallying at polling stations.
Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has taken note of the Judgment of Supreme Court of Kenya delivered on 1 September 2017 nullifying the result of the presidential election held on 8 August 2017 in the East African country.
President Uhuru Kenyatta again accused the court of overturning the will of the people after he had been declared the victor of the August 8 election.
Mr. Kerry, heading the Carter Center’s observer mission, said, “Kenya has made a remarkable statement to Africa and the world about its democracy and the character of that democracy”.
But an enraged Kenyatta, while saying he would respect the decision, lashed out at the judges, saying: “Every time we do something a judge comes out and places an injunction”.
“Kenya’s electoral institutions must now begin preparing for a new presidential poll later this year and we urge everyone to work to make it free, fair, credible and peaceful”.
A visibly fuming Kenyan president on Saturday hit out at judges’ annulment of last month’s poll results, which frustrated his hopes of reelection to a second term. After each one, he has claimed the votes were marred by rigging.
The nullification of Kenya’s presidential election is unprecedented in Africa and legal experts say it may have a significant bearing on presidential election petitions in the region and Africa.
Thousands of his supporters took to the streets in celebration. Motorcycle drivers hooted their horns. “And as I have said before, the Opposition are not interested in the election but a back door route for a nusu mkate (coalition) government”, Uhuru said. The fighting also helped to bring on a recession in Kenya, the region’s largest economy, and the economic slump fell to other neighboring countries as well.
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A lawyer for the electoral commission, Paul Muite, had argued in a submission to the court that the irregularities were not enough to overturn the result.
