Ruling blow for Kenya’s coalition

NAIROBI: Kenya’s Supreme Court yesterday rejected the participation of the main opposition coalition in petitions challenging President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory in last month’s presidential election.

The ruling, on the first day of the court’s review of the petitions, is a setback for opposition leader Raila Odinga’s NASA coalition, which hopes to overturn President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory in the October 26 poll.

The court has until Monday to rule on the petitions, the latest chapter in a political crisis that has stirred fears for the stability of the east African nation.

If the election result is upheld, Kenyatta will be sworn in on November 28. He came to power in 2013 and won a second and final term in August, defeating Odinga by 1.4 million votes. – Reuters