(3 minutes read)
- The Kenyan Supreme Court is preparing itself for hearing the complaint filed by Raila Odinga, who got defeated in the recent elections held recently by a narrow margin. Everyone is looking towards the supreme court, which is known for its impeccable track record for giving verdicts
The Kenyan Supreme Court is preparing itself for hearing the complaint filed by Raila Odinga, who got defeated in the recent elections held recently by a narrow margin. Everyone is looking towards the supreme court, which is known for its impeccable track record for giving verdicts. As reported by www.trendsnafrica.com, the country’s highest court, which had annulled the last presidential election in 2017, on the grounds of impropriety and unfairness, will give the decision in the next 14 days.
Raila Odinga was backed this year by his arch rival and incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta. In the election, the incumbent Vice President William Ruto won by about 233,000 votes, which is a difference of less than 2 percent. The Supreme Court is the “final arbiter and interpreter of the Constitution. Its decisions are final and binding, handed down by seven judges officially appointed by the President of the Republic but whom the latter does not have the power to choose. The names of the candidates are submitted to the Presidency by the judiciary, following a process of open application. The aspirants are selected through a rigorous process of public hearings – sometimes broadcast on television.
Read also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/odinga-files-petition-with-supreme-court-kenyas-election-turmoil/
https://trendsnafrica.com/kenyans-waiting-for-ruling-from-supreme-court-on-new-president/
The supreme court has a high level of credibility and a judicial process would act as a valve to defuse political tensions. The 2017 presidential election was invalidated In the August 2017 presidential election. Raila Odinga’s assertion to the supreme court at that time was that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEBC) database had been hacked and the results falsified. On 1 September 2017, the Supreme Court invalidated the election due to “irregularities” and ordered a new election to be held within two months, which was a first in Africa. In October, he was finally elected with 98% of the vote in a ballot boycotted by the opposition and marked by a low turnout.
