Kenya’s Supreme Court said Tuesday it would encounter on the even out of the country’s presidential election re-run to require heed a last-minute petition challenging the ballot.
Chief Justice David Maraga, who presided over the annulling of August’s master copy flawed vote, said he volition require heed a petition filed past times human rights activists arguing Republic of Kenya is non stimulate for Thursday’s re-run.
“Matter to live heard at 10.00 am (07:00 GMT) tomorrow,” Maraga ordered inwards a statement.
Maraga said the Independent Electoral too Boundaries Commission (IEBC) every bit good every bit “all the Presidential candidates” must submit their written submissions earlier the hearing.
Kenya’s disputed presidential poll has been beset past times legal challenges, including 1 brought past times opposition leader Raila Odinga which led to the Supreme Court overturning President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory on September 1 too ordering a re-run inside lx days.
The Supreme Court’s determination to require heed this latest petition, filed on Sunday, raises the possibility that Thursday’s election may live delayed.
“We are hoping they volition cancel elections on Oct 26,” said activist Khelef Khalifa of Muslims for Human Rights.
He filed the petition with Samwel Mohochi of the Republic of Kenya branch of the International Commission of Jurists, too Gacheke Gachihi — too known every bit Nahashon Kamau — of the Mathare Social Justice Centre inwards Nairobi.
The petitioners advert several arguments for delaying the vote.
They include Odinga’s withdrawal from the re-run 2 weeks agone which they say agency the vote must live cancelled too the IEBC chairman’s ain admission terminal calendar week that “a free, fair too credible election” could non live guaranteed every bit the constitution demands.
They fence that a delay of upwards to xc days should live ordered past times the Supreme Court.
The opposition, every bit good every bit around analysts, convey too called for a delay, only Kenyatta has insisted the vote should larn ahead every bit planned despite Odinga’s boycott too ongoing protests.
AFP