Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga said on Friday the election commission should resign and some officials should face criminal prosecution after the Supreme Court ruled that irregularities nullified last month’s presidential election.
“It is now clear that the entire edifice of the (election board) is rotten. Clear evidence shows that the commission was taken over by criminals … they must face criminal prosecution,” he said, naming particular officials. “We are ready but cannot repeat the election with this commission.”
Kenya’s election commission had declared Mr Kenyatta the winner by a margin of 1.4 million votes but the result was immediately challenged in court by his nearest rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga.
In a ruling on Friday, Chief Justice David Maraga said the 8 August election had not been conducted in accordance with the constitution, declaring it “invalid, null and void”.
The ruling did not attribute any blame to President Kenyatta’s party or campaign.
Mr Odinga, who was in the courtroom, smiled and pumped his fist in the air as the ruling was read out.
Thousands of his supporters took to the streets in celebration.
Mr Odinga, 72, said the ruling marked “a historic day for the people of Kenya and by extension for the people of the continent of Africa”.
It is believed to be the first time in Africa that a legal challenge brought by the opposition against a presidential poll result has been successful.
Mr Odinga called the electoral commission “rotten” and called for its members to resign and face prosecution.
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