Kenyan court overturns presidential election

International Desk: Kenya's Supreme Court has declared President Uhuru Kenyatta's election win invalid due to "irregularities committed by the election board" and ordered a new vote.

The decision to cancel the vote result, the first of its kind in Kenya's history, sets up a new race for the presidency between Mr Kenyatta and veteran opposition leader, Raila Odinga.

Overturning Mr Kenyatta's re-election last month, a panel of judges ordered a re-run of the vote within 60 days.

The six-judge bench ruled 4-2 in favor of the petition filed by Mr Odinga, who had claimed that the electronic voting results were hacked into and manipulated in favor of Mr Kenyatta. The president had won a second term with 54 percent of the vote.

"The declaration (of Kenyatta's win) is invalid, null and void," said Judge David Maranga, announcing the verdict backed by four out of the six judges.

"The first respondent (the election board) failed neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution."

Many voters in the west of Kenya, Mr Odinga's stronghold, and along the coast, where there is also traditionally large support for the opposition, feel neglected by the central government and shut out of power.

Security was tight around the courthouse with armed police and barricaded streets.

Source: Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/September 1, 2017/A K Azad