Why Kenyans are voting for president second time

KAMPALA, UGANDA— Kenyans vote Thursday in a repeat election that has East Africa’s economic power on edge once more. The Supreme Court shocked Africa last month by nullifying the president’s re-election, citing illegalities and irregularities. Here are the key issues:

Who’s running? Who knows? Opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose legal challenge claiming vote-rigging led to this new election, has said he won’t take part on Thursday because electoral reforms have not been made. But the electoral commission has said Odinga will be on the ballot because he didn’t turn in a formal withdrawal form. President Uhuru Kenyatta, who called the Supreme Court justices “crooks” after they nullified his re-election, has insisted that Thursday’s vote will go ahead. He wants to avoid becoming the first Kenyan president not to win re-election.

Will there be violence? Kenya has seen deadly post-election violence in the past. Officials in the nation have said that such bloodshed will be avoided now. Still, dozens have died since the August vote. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say police have killed at least 67 opposition supporters since the election results were announced. Meanwhile, Kenyatta supporters accuse the opposition of attacking preparations for Thursday’s vote.

Is Kenya ready to vote again? Many Kenyans were alarmed last week when the electoral commission chair, Wafula Chebukati, said it would be “difficult to guarantee a free, fair and credible” election despite what he called “full technical preparedness.” Another top commission official, Roselyn Akombe, resigned and fled to the U.S., saying the new vote cannot be free and fair.