KENYA: Odinga goes to court to contest defeat to Kenyatta

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has announced that he will contest his defeat during last Tuesday’s general election to incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta at the Supreme Court.

After its defeat last week, the opposition had said going to court was not an option. But Odinga on Wednesday made it clear it is now an option.

“We will not accept and move on,” he said. “We shall hold vigils, moments of silence, beat drums and do everything else to draw attention to the gross electoral injustices.”

Read also: Kenya’s opposition describes Kenyatta’s win as a charade and a disaster

After he was defeated by 54 percent of votes cast, Odinga acussed the ruling party of a “computer-generated presidency”, claiming that the election results were hacked and rigged in favour of Kenyatta.

Odinga also defied calls for calm by the United Nations after he called for a strike to support his claim to the presidency and accused the ruling party of “spilling the blood of innocent people”.

A day after Kenyatta was declared the winner of the presidential polls, police opened fire to disperse protesters who blocked roads and set up barricades in the capital, Nairobi, on Saturday.

According to Kenyan human rights watchdog, at least 26 people have been killed in the post-election violence, while oppostion leaders claim the death toll is much higher.

 

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