Kenya’s Supreme Court annuls presidential polls

By Andrew Wasike and Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

Supreme Court on Friday annulled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election win, saying the elections were marred by irregularities.

“The elections are null, invalid and void, a declaration hereby is issued that the 3rd respondent [President Uhuru Kenyatta] was not legally declared as president,” the Chief Justice David Maraga announced.

Maraga, leading a six-member bench, also directed the authorities to hold a fresh election within 60 days.

The opposition had moved the country’s apex court, alleging that the electoral body’s system was hacked to manipulate the results.

Representing Kenya’s electoral body, Senior Counsel Paul Muite told the court that, “Right or wrong the Supreme Court has spoken once again and the people of Kenya will go to the polls to decide who they want as president.”

Lawyers representing President Uhuru Kenyatta for their part also welcomed the court’s ruling but asked for a comprehensive statement on the judgment.

Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga termed the judgment “historic”, saying the integrity of Kenya’s Supreme Court has been established.

Milka Achieng, an accountant, who was celebrating the judgment with thousands of opposition members outside the court, said: “God is great, God is almighty… They stole our elections and now God has granted us victory”.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, another opposition supporter Ouma Onyango said Kenya will never be the same again and called for a new electoral management commission to host the general elections.