Kenya’s apex court upholds Kenyatta’s presidential win

Nairobi, November 20

Kenya’s Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta in last month’s repeat presidential vote, paving the way for him to be sworn in next week.

Chief Justice David Maraga said all six judges dismissed the two legal challenges to the vote. The opposition coalition NASA insisted the government was illegitimate.

Kenyatta’s main challenger, NASA’s Raila Odinga, said in a statement by his adviser Salim Lone that the ruling “did not come as a surprise” and said “it was a decision taken under duress”.

Residents in the western city of Kisumu, where Odinga has strong backing, barricaded roads in protest at the court’s decision, and police later fired in the air to disperse them, according to a witness. — Reuters