Page 12 - ARUBS TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 11 OctOber 2017

Kenya opposition leader withdraws from fresh election

Kenyatta said the election tutional uncertainty.”
will go ahead, telling sup- Based on the Supreme
porters that “there is no- Court’s decision, Kenyatta
where the constitution says cannot run alone on the
Raila Amollo Odinga has ballot or be sworn in au-
to be on the ballot.” tomatically, said Ndungu
The election commission Wainaina, executive di-
said on Twitter it was meet- rector of the International
ing with its legal team and Center for Policy and Con-
“will communicate way flict. The court ordered a
forward.” fresh election between
Odinga told supporters the original candidates
that Kenya’s election com- of the Aug. 8 poll, and if
mission had “stonewalled that does not take place
meaningful deliberations” the court will annul results
on reforms to ensure a of the new vote because
credible vote. He warned it did not abide by the or-
that the upcoming elec- der, he said.Kenya is in
tion could be run worse “uncharted waters,” said
than the first one, and he Murithi Mutiga, senior ana-
In this Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 photo, opposition leader Raila Odinga arrives at the Supreme Court called for countrywide lyst with the International
in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. Odinga withdrew his candidacy for the fresh presidential election protests to urge reforms. Crisis Group. “The consti-
ordered by the country’s Supreme Court Tuesday, Oct. 10. The opposition called for tution is silent about what
(AP Photo/Ben Curtis) protests Wednesday at the happens if the presiden-
By TOM ODULA has not made changes the results of a presidential election commission head- tial election doesn’t take
Associated Press to avoid the “irregularities election in Africa. The court quarters.In response, the place after the court an-
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — and illegalities” cited in the on Sept. 1 ordered a new commission tweeted a let- nuls the elections,” he said.
Kenyan opposition leader nullified August vote. election within 60 days. It is ter it sent Tuesday to Odin- The public has been ex-
Raila Odinga on Tuesday Odinga’s legal challenge set for Oct. 26. ga’s opposition coalition hausted and polarized by
shocked the country by of vote-rigging had led the Odinga’s withdrawal cre- saying “we have taken the the drawn-out campaign,
withdrawing his candidacy court to nullify the election ated confusion in East Afri- necessary steps to guaran- he said. “Both the opposi-
for the fresh presidential that President Uhuru Ke- ca’s largest economy, with tee the integrity of the fresh tion and ruling party need
election ordered by the nyatta won with 54 percent observers wondering how presidential elections.” to show greater responsi-
Supreme Court, saying of ballots. It was the first time the new election might go Analysts said Odinga’s bility to find a settlement
the election commission a court had overturned forward. withdrawal brings “consti- that allows the country to
Liberia votes to replace Africa’s 1st female leader move.”Kenyatta must stop
being a candidate and
By JONATHAN LAYLEH ed the violence of Liberia’s needs to focus on infra- Boakai, one of the front- provide leadership, said
Associated Press past could rise again. Sirleaf structure, education and runners, told reporters that lawyer George Kegoro,
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — led the country’s recovery sustaining the peace,” she if he wins, “we are not go- executive director of the
Liberians chose between from a 14-year civil war. said. ing to be a donor-driven Kenya Human Rights Com-
20 candidates vying to suc- “This election now is crucial Liberia’s health system was country. mission. “We have entered
ceed Africa’s first female and important because as decimated by the Ebola Liberians are going to build into constitutional uncer-
president Tuesday, as vot- you can see the peace is outbreak in 2014-2015 that their economy.” tainty. Uhuru Kenyatta has
ers picked the person they very fragile right now, and posed Sirleaf’s biggest His main contender is to wear his other cap as
believe will best help the we need a smooth transi- challenge. 51-year-old former interna- president and become
West African country move tion from one government More than 2.1 million vot- tional soccer star George the arbiter.”The court in
past the Ebola crisis that to another,” said Stevera ers registered to vote at Weah. Weah’s running nullifying the August elec-
killed nearly 5,000 people. Toh, a 32-year-old accoun- nearly 5,400 polling stations mate is Jewel Howard-Tay- tion cited illegalities and
The election is already tant. “So we have to vote throughout the country lor, the ex-wife of former the election commission’s
expected to go to a run- wisely and make the right that was established by the President Charles Taylor, refusal to allow scrutiny of
off vote because of the decision for our country, United States in the 19th who is jailed for war crimes. its computer system, say-
crowded field. our kids and generations.” century for freed black Weah ran against Sirleaf ing the commission failed
When the transfer of power Long queues remained at slaves. in 2005, winning in the first to disprove Odinga’s claim
takes place, it will be the many polling stations at Given the high number of round but losing to her in that hackers infiltrated the
first of its kind in the nation closing time, with those in presidential candidates, it the second. servers and manipulated
in more than 70 years. line still able to vote. is unlikely anyone will win Another top candidate is the vote.Kenyatta, called
As Nobel Peace Prize win- Andrea Kamara, a 27-year- more than 50 percent of former warlord Prince John- the Supreme Court judges
ner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf old marketing consultant, the vote, taking the elec- son, who videotaped him- “crooks” after their ruling,
prepares to step aside, said impoverished Libe- tions to a second round, self as his fighters tortured has said he does not want
there are fears that if elec- ria needs development. likely in November. and killed President Samuel changes to the election
tion results aren’t accept- “Whoever gets into office Vice President Joseph Doe in 1990.q commission. q