Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Seven teenage girls died in a fire at a Nairobi school dormitory on Saturday, and 10 others were injured, according to Kenya’s education minister. “We have lost seven students in this unfortunate incident,” said Fred Matiangi on visiting Moi Girls High School, a prestigious government …
Read More »Kenya media hail ‘bombshell’ court ruling to annul vote
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s press on Saturday praised the Supreme Court decision to annul last month’s presidential poll as a hard-fought victory for the rule of law, and sign of a maturing democracy. Pointing to widespread irregularities in the electronic transmission of vote results, Chief Justice David …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Kenya faces tricky path after ‘historic’ ruling
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | A decision by Kenya’s Supreme Court to annul the results of last month’s presidential election was hailed Friday by analysts as “historic” and “an example for the rest of the world”. However, they warned that the 60 days within which a new election must be …
Read More »Kenya’s Supreme Court, born of the 2010 constitution
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s supreme court, which took the historic decision to annul the August 8 presidential election on Friday, is the country’s highest court, composed of seven judges whose judgements are final and binding. It was created by the country’s 2010 constitution which is considered more progressive …
Read More »Presidential polls annulled around the world
Paris, France | AFP | The annulment by Kenya’s Supreme Court of last month’s presidential poll is a first in Africa, but has several precedents on other continents over the past two decades. – Austria: marathon election – Green-backed Alexander Van der Bellen, who ran as an independent, was declared …
Read More »Jubilant crowds dub Kenya’s top judge ‘an African hero’
Kibera, Kenya | AFP | “Baba! Baba!” the men cried, screaming out the nickname of Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga as they rolled about in the middle of a road, clutching a campaign poster with his picture on it. Moments earlier a man in a full gorilla suit zipped by …
Read More »Kenya’s electoral board to make ‘changes’ ahead of new vote
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s electoral commission vowed Friday to make staff changes ahead of a new presidential vote ordered by the Supreme Court, which said it had failed to conduct a valid election last month. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati took note of …
Read More »Kenyatta ‘disagrees’ with court’s poll ruling but ‘respects it’
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said today that he disagreed with a Supreme Court decision invalidating his re-election and calling for fresh elections, but vowed to respect it. “I personally disagree with the ruling that has been made today but I respect it,” he said, adding …
Read More »Kenya opposition hails ‘historic’ decision overturning poll
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday hailed as historic a court decision nullifying an election won by President Uhuru Kenyatta and calling for a re-run. “This is a historic day for the people of Kenya and by extension for the people of the continent …
Read More »Shock as Kenya court cancels election result, demands re-run
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered a new presidential election after annulling the results of last month’s poll in a shock decision in favour of the opposition. Joyous celebrations erupted outside the court and in Nairobi slums after the second term victory of President Uhuru …
Read More »