KENYA: The country's Supreme Court upholds the presidential election win of Uhuru Kenyatta, saying he won fairly

Record ID: 362569

  • Title: KENYA: The country's Supreme Court upholds the presidential election win of Uhuru Kenyatta, saying he won fairly
  • Date: 30th March 2013
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (MARCH 30, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) WIDE OF SUPREME COURT JUDGES WALKING IN HALLWAY JUDGES WALKING INTO COURT JUDGES STANDING IN COURT (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE KENYA SUPREME COURT, WILLY MUTUNGA, SAYING: "As to whether the third and fourth respondents were validly elected and declared as president-elect and deputy president-elect o
  • Embargoed: 14th April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB4HU7YGOXM4DHHZ73LMN51EBX
  • Story Text: Kenya's Supreme Court upheld Uhuru Kenyatta's presidential election victory on Saturday (March 30), unanimously rejecting a challenge from defeated candidate Raila Odinga that the vote was marred by rigging and technical problems.
    Kenya's outgoing president had called for calm ahead of the judgment which came five years after another ballot dispute triggered widespread bloodshed.
    Paramilitary police, some on horseback, formed a security cordon around the court before the ruling. The police chief repeatedly said he would not allow public rallies.
    At Kenya's Supreme Court, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga confirmed that the election result was valid.

    "As to whether the third and fourth respondents were validly elected and declared as president-elect and deputy president-elect of the Republic of Kenya respectively, by the second respondent in the presidential elections held on the 4th March 2013, it is the decision of the court that the third and the fourth respondents were validly elected," said the judge, referring to Kenyatta and his running mate for deputy president William Ruto.
    After a week of hearings, the six judges of the court had unanimously decided the March 4 vote was conducted in a free, fair and credible manner in line with the constitution, said Mutunga.

    "As to whether the rejected votes ought to have been included in determining the final tally of votes in favour of each of the presidential candidates by the second respondent, it is the decision of the court that such rejected votes ought not to have been included in calculating the final tallies in favour of each presidential candidate," said the Chief Justice.
    Mutanga said the court had done its duty at a historic moment.
    Many ordinary Kenyans have insisted they will not allow a repeat of the violence that killed more than 1,200 people and hammered the economy following a dispute over the last election in 2007.
    Peaceful voting in this year's vote, and the fact the dispute was played out by lawyers not machete-wielding gangs, has already helped repair the image of east Africa's largest economy.
    Kenyatta comfortably beat Odinga in terms of votes won, with 50.07 percent versus 43.28 percent, but only narrowly avoided a run-off by just edging above the 50 percent threshold.
    Western donors are watching the fate of a regional trade partner and a country they see as vital to stability in a volatile area. They had also said before the victory was confirmed that a Kenyatta win would complicate relations.
    He is facing charges at the International Criminal Court of crimes against humanity, accused of helping incite the violence after the 2007 vote. Kenyatta denies the charges and has promised to cooperate with the court to clear his name.
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