Kenyan Supreme Court nullifies disputed presidential election

Kenya’s Supreme Court, in an historic decision Friday, nullified incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential election win and ordered a new election within 60 days. The six-judge bench ruled 4-2 in favor of a petition filed by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who argued elections held in August were hacked to favor Kenyatta. The incumbent won a second term in that election with 54 percent of the vote. Chief Justice David Maraga said the election was “not conducted in accordance to the constitution and applicable law, rendering the results invalid, null, and void.” Following Kenya’s 2013 presidential election, Odinga claimed the election was rigged but lost his case at the Supreme Court. “It’s a very historic day for the people of Kenya, and by extension the people of Africa,” Odinga said. “This is a precedent-setting ruling.” Kenyatta’s lawyers called the ruling a “very political decision” but said they will live with the consequences.