Just when many Kenyans thought they had seen the end of the country’s long election season, three petitions to contest the process were filed with the Supreme Court ahead of a Monday night deadline. The petitions target all sides in the presidential election controversy — the electoral commission, opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta. Former lawmaker Harun Mwau filed a petition against the electoral commission, known as the IEBC, as well as its chairman and President Kenyatta. Mwau is challenging the validity of the October 26 re-run presidential election, which he argues was held in violation of Supreme Court directions, the Constitution and relevant electoral laws.
The Institute for Democratic Governance, an NGO, filed one against several officials in the opposition NASA coalition, including leader Raila Odinga, for engaging in what it called a “carefully choreographed scheme to derail, undermine, and subvert the fresh election as announced by the Supreme Court.”
The IDG also accused the opposition of setting unreasonable demands for the electoral commission to meet.
In addition, Khelef Khalifa, chairman of the group Mombasa-based Muslims for Human Rights, filed a petition against the IEBC and its chairman, as well as Kenyatta and the NASA coalition. Khalifa filed jointly with Njonjo Mue, Kenya’s chairman of the International Commission of Jurists.
Full Article: Kenya’s Election Season Extended as 3 Petitions Filed in Court.