News|Elections

Kenyans on social media react to ruling annulling polls

Many social media users describe the Supreme Court’s judgment as a victory for Kenyan democracy.

Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga celebrate along the streets after President Uhuru Kenyatta''s election win was declared invalid by a court in Kisumu
Supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga have filled the streets of the capital Nairobi on Friday [James Keyi/Reuters]
Published On 1 Sep 2017

Kenyans have rushed to social media to express their views on a Supreme Court decision nullifying the result of the August 8 presidential election that declared President Uhuru Kenyatta the winner.

The court on Friday ordered on a new presidential election to be held within 60 days, saying that the electoral board committed “irregularities and illegalities” during the vote.

Voters of opposition leader Raila Odinga have filled the streets of the capital, Nairobi, cheering their support for the court’s decision

At the time of publication, #SupremeCourtDecides and #ElectionsKE2017 were the most popular Twitter hashtags in Kenya.

Many social media users tweeting on the issue said that the court’s judgment was a victory for Kenyan democracy.

https://twitter.com/skgjnr/status/900114582240362497

Last month’s election is the first one to be nullified in the East African country. 

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“The declaration [of Kenyatta’s win] is invalid, null and void,” said Judge David Maraga, announcing the verdict of four out of the six judges.

Following the announcement, many took to Twitter to congratulate the judges for their decision.

According to the results announced by the electoral commission before they were nullified, Kenyatta had been declared the winner with 54 percent of the votes. 

Some of his supporters also took to social media to express support for the leader of the Jubilee Party.

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Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies

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