Calm returns to Nairobi after Supreme Court endorses Kenyatta re-election

Against threat of violence and riots in some parts of Kenya, calm appeared to have returned to the country’s capital Nairobi, a day after the country’s supreme court upheld the country’s general election won by Uhuru Kenyatta.

Agency reports said that Kenya’s capital, Nairobi on Tuesday remained calm a day after the Supreme Court upheld the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta in last month’s repeat presidential vote.

Chief Justice, David Maraga on Monday said all six judges dismissed the two legal challenges to the vote. The opposition coalition NASA insisted the government was illegitimate.

Meanwhile, two people have been reported dead following protest that erupted after the court’s ruling.

According to agency report, one protester was killed in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, while a paramedic tending the injured at a demonstration in western Migori was also shot dead, Kenya police said.*

Kenya’s Supreme Court had on Monday validated the election victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta, sparking opposition protests that left two dead, according to police.

In a statement, Odinga said the ruling “did not come as a surprise”, nor did it alter his opposition to a government he regards as illegitimate.

The court has unanimously determined that the petitions are not merited. As a consequence, the presidential election of 26 October is hereby upheld.

Kenyatta’s main challenger, NASA’s Raila Odinga, said via his adviser Salim Lone that the ruling “did not come as a surprise” and said “it was a decision taken under duress”.

The ruling clears the way for Kenyatta’s swearing-in on November 28, but it is unlikely to end the worst political crisis in East Africa’s most developed economy in a decade.

Sporadic clashes erupted on Monday in pro-opposition areas after the ruling.

Cross section of Kenyans said the ruling has taken a burden off their shoulders adding that they can now move on with their life.

“What has happened by yesterday’s verdict, we are happy about it because we have now regained the peace back in our country and hoping that you know, everything will go on well.

Because we had gone down, about businesses and economically we had lost quite a lot” said a Nairobi resident, Richard Muchiri.

However, Odinga has dismissed the court decision, saying it was made under coercion insisting that the government and the election remained illegitimate.

“It was a decision taken under duress. We do not condemn the court, we sympathize with it,” he said in a statement.

Dozens have been killed during demonstrations since the August election, and police have been accused of using excessive force with Odinga supporters.

According to local media, at least five people were killed on Friday when police fired tear gas and then bullets at Odinga supporters seeking to welcome him home from a trip abroad.

Odinga’s motorcade was then blocked by police from attending a rally at Uhuru Park.