Kenyan presidential election in turmoil

Thousands of opposition protesters gathered in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Wednesday, one day after opposition leader Raila Odinga withdrew from this month’s presidential election redo. Last month, the Kenyan Supreme Court rejected the results of the August presidential election and ordered a new vote set for Oct. 26. The court said hackers used the electoral commission’s computer system to manipulate the vote in favor of President Uhuru Kenyatta. Odinga withdrew from the new election on Tuesday, saying the electoral commission had not made changes to avoid the “irregularities and illegalities” that led to the annulled August vote. Amid uncertainty about the constitutionality of a Kenyatta-only ballot, the Kenyan Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that minor opposition candidates can be added to this month’s ballot. Also on Wednesday, Kenyan lawmakers passed an amendment to the country’s electoral law. The Kenyatta-backed amendment has been criticized by diplomats, including U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec, for opening the door to more fraud.