Why did the Supreme Court annul Kenya’s 2017 presidential election results?

The Supreme Court of Kenya annulled the results of the August 8, 2017, presidential election because it ruled that the process was not conducted in accordance with the terms outlined in the country's constitution.12

Following a petition filed by Raila Odinga and the National Super Alliance (NASA), the court determined that the election was "fatally compromised" by irregularities. Key factors in the court's decision included:13

• Flawed Tallying and Transmission: The court found significant faults in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) vote tallying and transmission processes.12
• Missing Documentation: Thousands of necessary polling station documents were unaccounted for, and some vote tally forms lacked required security features.12
• Noncompliance: The IEBC failed to obey a court order to provide access to its computer servers and logs for inspection.12

The ruling, issued on September 1, 2017, was historic as it marked the first time an African court had nullified a presidential election. The court ordered a new election to be held within 60 days.132