Voting has commenced in Kenya amid tight security in a re-run of the presidential election, which is being boycotted by the main opposition.
“Police have clashed with opposition supporters, some of whom have been blocking access to polling stations.” BBC reports
Recall that President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner in an August vote, but it is being held again over “irregularities”.
Kenya’s Supreme Court took the unprecedented decision to annul the August presidential election and demand a re-run in September citing “irregularities and illegalities”.
Chief Justice David Maraga said the election had not been “conducted in accordance with the constitution” and declared it “invalid, null and void”.
Mr Kenyatta is seeking a second term while his counterpart, opposition leader Raila Odinga has pulled out of the contest.
About 70 people have been killed in violence since Mr Kenyatta was declared the winner in August’s election.
Mr Odinga had wanted the repeat ballot to be held at a later date, but a bid to delay the election re-run fell apart after only two of seven Supreme Court judges attended a hearing on Wednesday.
One judge, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, failed to appear after her bodyguard was shot and wounded by unknown gunmen on Tuesday.