Kenya's re-run presidential election is expected to proceed tomorrow, despite a shooting, alleged intimidation of the judiciary and the danger of a “violent implosion” predicted to be a major blow to African democracy.
A last-minute petition to postpone the vote failed after the Supreme Court was unable to gather a quorum of judges to hear the case, the BBC says.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The shooting follows a member of the electoral commission taking refuge in New York, saying she’d received death threats, while the murder of a commission official before the original election in August remains unsolved.
“The country itself appears in danger of a violent implosion,” The Washington Post says. “Senior election officials have warned that the outcome will not be credible. That could lead to mass protests and bloodshed - not to mention a major setback for African democracy.”
Uhuru Kenyatta, who is seeking a second term as president, said the ballot must go ahead. However, opposition leader Raila Odinga is boycotting the re-run, saying nothing has changed since 1 September, when judges ruled the previous election was fraudulent.
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weaponsThe Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarrayIn the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
