COURT BACKS KENYAN ELECTION RESULT AS PROTESTS ERUPT
KENYA’S Supreme Court on Monday upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election in a repeat vote that the opposition boycotted while saying electoral reforms had not been made.
The decision appeared to put an end to a months-long political drama never before seen in Africa that has left dozens dead.
In a unanimous decision, the court dismissed challenges by human rights activists and a politician who argued that last month’s election was not conducted according to the law.
Though the opposition called for calm, at least two people were killed in protests. Kibra police chief Enoch Maloba confirmed that one protester was shot dead by anti-riot police in that part of the capital, Nairobi.
And in western Kenya, Migori county police chief Joseph Nthenge said one person was shot dead by anti-riot police battling with protesters blocking a highway. Anger remained.
“We will not respect (Mr Kenyatta) even after the court verdict. That was not an election and we will continue opposing him,” said one resident of the opposition stronghold of Kisumu city, Wycliffe Onyango.
“There is no perfect election; there will always be errors in elections, but you cannot invalidate an election unless those errors affect the outcome,” said the country’s attorney general, Githu Muigai.