Kenya: Rerun of marred presidential polls due Oct. 17

By Magdalene Mukami and Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI

Less than a week after the Supreme Court nullified the Aug. 8 elections, Kenyan authorities on Monday announced a new date for fresh polls.

In a statement, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) head Wafula Chebukati said new presidential elections will be held on Oct. 17.

The announcement comes just hours after the East African country's Education Minister asked the commission to hold the polls before Oct. 17 so as not to disrupt Kenya's 2017 national examination timetable.

Chebukati said only the existing presidential candidates and their running mates will be on the ballot.

Kenya's Aug. 8 elections were marred by poll violence that lead to the deaths of at least 20 people, including a six-month-old infant.

The violence started on Aug. 9 when opposition leader Raila Odinga disputed early election results, saying that they had unearthed evidence of mass poll rigging in favor of President Kenyatta's ruling Jubilee Party.