Sequel to a Supreme Court ruling nullifying the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ordering a fresh presidential election within sixty days, the election commission in the country on Monday said it will conduct the fresh presidential election on October 17.
“A fresh presidential election will be held on the 17th of October 2017,” said a statement signed by Wafula Chebukati, chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“This is in conformity with the Supreme Court decision annulling the presidential election held on 8th August 2017.”
Chebukati said only Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who brought the court challenge, would be on the ballot paper, along with their running mates.
On Friday, chief justice David Maraga cancelled the results of the August poll saying the election commission had failed to hold a legitimate election and that the results were, therefore “invalid, null and void”.
He added that the IEBC had committed “irregularities and illegalities” in the transmission of results from polling stations to the national tally centre.
However, a full explanation of the court’s reasoning has yet to be published.
“It is imperative that a detailed judgement… is released in order to allow the Commission to identify areas that require improvement,” Chebukati said.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Kenyatta has since accepted the Supreme Court’s judgement urging Kenyans to remain calm while the two major candidates (Incumbent Kenyatta and Raila Odinga) fight out in another round of fierce contest.