“The presidential election held on August 8 was not conducted in accordance with the constitution,” said Chief Justice David Maraga, ruling in favour of the opposition which challenged the declaration of President Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner.

Maraga said this was a majority decision, with two judges dissenting.

The shock ruling was a rare example of a poll result being overturned, with Maraga saying the election commission (IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution”.

He validated opposition leader Raila Odinga’s argument that there had been “irregularities and illegalities”, notably in the transmission of election results.

Maraga said this had compromised the “integrity of the entire presidential election”.

Kenya opposition hails ‘historic’ decision overturning poll

Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday hailed as historic a court decision nullifying an election won by President Uhuru Kenyatta and calling for a re-run.

“This is a historic day for the people of Kenya and by extension for the people of the continent of Africa,”  said Odinga, adding it was the first time a presidential result had been overturned in Africa.

“We are ready for elections but we don’t have confidence” in the electoral commission (IEBC), he added.

“Those commissioners must go,” said Odinga. “Most of them belong in jail.”