Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in a repeat vote that the opposition boycotted while saying electoral reforms had not been made. The decision appeared to put an end to a months-long political drama never before seen in Africa that has left dozens dead.
Supporters of Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, hold up a poster and celebrate in Nairobi Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 after Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in a repeat vote that the opposition boycotted while saying electoral reforms had not been made. (AP Photo/John Muchucha)
In a unanimous decision, the court dismissed challenges by human rights activists and a politician who argued that last month's election was not conducted according to the law.
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Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in a repeat vote that the opposition boycotted while saying electoral reforms had not been made. The decision appeared to put an end to a months-long political drama never before seen in Africa that has left dozens dead.
In a unanimous decision, the court dismissed challenges by human rights activists and a politician who argued that last month's election was not conducted according to the law.
Anger remained. "We will not respect (Kenyatta) even after the court verdict. That was not an election and we will continue opposing him," said one resident of the opposition stronghold of Kisumu city, Wycliffe Onyango.
"There is no perfect election; there will always be errors in elections, but you cannot invalidate an election unless those errors affect the outcome," said the country's attorney general, Githu Muigai.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose legal challenge led to the nullification, then boycotted the repeat election and rejected Kenyatta's overwhelming win. In some opposition strongholds, the repeat vote could not be carried out amid unrest.
"We ... had repeatedly declared before this Supreme Court ruling today that we consider this government to be illegitimate and do not recognize it. This position has not been changed by the court ruling," Odinga said.
Odinga is now asking for international intervention as violent protests continue. Kenya "was being pushed to the precipice," he said Sunday.
Though the opposition called for calm, at least two people were killed in protests. Kibra police chief Enoch Maloba confirmed that one protester was shot dead by anti-riot police in that part of the capital, Nairobi. And in western Kenya, Migori county police chief Joseph Nthenge said one person was shot dead by anti-riot police battling with protesters blocking a highway.
Supporters of Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, celebrate in Nairobi Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 after Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in a repeat vote that the opposition boycotted while saying electoral reforms had not been made. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
Anger remained. "We will not respect (Kenyatta) even after the court verdict. That was not an election and we will continue opposing him," said one resident of the opposition stronghold of Kisumu city, Wycliffe Onyango.
Live television footage showed Kenyatta supporters bursting into song. There was no immediate public comment from the president.
A car is set ablaze by opposition supporters, in Kisumu, Kenya, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 after Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in a repeat vote that the opposition boycotted while saying electoral reforms had not been made. (AP Photo/Amos Aura)
"There is no perfect election; there will always be errors in elections, but you cannot invalidate an election unless those errors affect the outcome," said the country's attorney general, Githu Muigai.
The court in September nullified the August presidential election over irregularities and ordered a new vote held last month. It was the first time a court in Africa had overturned a presidential election, and it kicked off months of uncertainty in East Africa's economic hub.
Supporters of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta celebrate on a street of Nairobi Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 after the supreme court dismissed the two petitions challenging president Uhuru Kenyatta win during the repeat presidential election held on Oct. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
Opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose legal challenge led to the nullification, then boycotted the repeat election and rejected Kenyatta's overwhelming win. In some opposition strongholds, the repeat vote could not be carried out amid unrest.
Odinga called Monday's court decision no surprise.
Supporters of Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, holding his poster celebrate in coastal town of Mombasa, Kenya, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 after Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in a repeat vote that the opposition boycotted while saying electoral reforms had not been made. (AP Photo)
"We ... had repeatedly declared before this Supreme Court ruling today that we consider this government to be illegitimate and do not recognize it. This position has not been changed by the court ruling," Odinga said.
The opposition leader said the court's decision was "taken under duress. We do not condemn the court, we sympathize with it."
He did not give details. There had been concerns about intimidation of the justices, who failed to muster a quorum to decide on a last-minute petition that sought to postpone last month's election. One justice's bodyguard was shot and seriously wounded hours before the expected judgment
Supporters of Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, celebrate in Nairobi Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 after Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in a repeat vote that the opposition boycotted while saying electoral reforms had not been made. The decision appeared to put an end to a months-long political drama never before seen in Africa that has left dozens dead. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)
Odinga is now asking for international intervention as violent protests continue. Kenya "was being pushed to the precipice," he said Sunday.
Dozens of people have been killed in clashes since the August vote. With this weekend's death toll nearly 100 people have died in the political unrest, the majority opposition demonstrators shot by police during protests.
Supporters of Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, celebrate in the street in Nairobi Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 after a unanimous decision by Kenya's Supreme Court to dismiss challenges by human rights activists and a politician who argued that last month's election was not conducted according to the law. Protests began in response to the court's decision, though an opposition call for calm appeared to have effect. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)