By Kenya’s Supreme Court has ruled that the election re-run will happen in Kenya as the plans had already been run.
This has happened after an event when the Supreme Court was unable to listen to the petition filed earlier by three Kenyan citizens against the scheduled date for the repeat polls and wanted to have it postponed.
On Tuesday, three Kenyans were reported to have filed a petition to the Supreme Court against the repeat polls, sighting several reasons including Raila Odinga’s withdrawal from the race, the IEBC’s incapability to hold a credible election and warning of what will happen in Kenya if the election was not postponed to give the electoral commission board more time to ensure free and fair election.
The Supreme Court scheduled to listen to the petition on Wednesday in the morning hours. Unfortunately, five of the seven members of the Court could not turn up for the session.
Minutes later, Chief Justice David Maraga, informed that the petition could not be heard, hence ruling that the election would go ahead as planned.
Wafula Chebukati, the electoral commission chairperson who last week was reported saying that he could not guarantee a credible election, has also urged Kenyans to go to the polls on Thursday in number, and cast their vote.
‘Based on assurances we have received from relevant authorities and security agencies, elections will go on as scheduled tomorrow,’ Chebukati said. Adding, ‘I have received assurances from the police that human rights will be respected and police brutality will stop.’
Raila Odinga, the opposition member who pulled out of the election earlier this month and later pushed for demonstrations in Kenya, has this time switched his words to urging Kenyans to boycott the election.
Mr. Odinga had earlier promised that he would lead protests on Thursday, in a bid to have the election process not successful and hence cancelled, but he now says they are going to boycott instead.
We advise Kenyans who value democracy and justice to hold vigil and prayers away from polling stations, or just stay at home – Mr. Odinga told a cheering crowd of thousands of his supporters on Wednesday in Uhuru Park, in the capital Nairobi.
‘Convince your friends, neighbors and everyone else not to participate. But if they support the president,’ he cautioned, ‘do not insult or assault them. Instead, seek to open their eyes.’
Reporter: Shamila Namuddu