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Déjà Vu for Kenya as Court Battles Loom Over Election Rerun

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  • Déjà Vu for Kenya as Court Battles Loom Over Election Rerun

Kenya is no closer to resolving months of political turmoil after millions of opposition supporters boycotted a Supreme Court-ordered repeat of its presidential election, raising the likelihood of another legal challenge to the outcome.

Less than half of registered voters cast ballots Thursday, down from the 79 percent turnout for Aug. 8 elections that the court annulled because proper procedures weren’t followed. Both votes were marred by violent clashes between the security forces and supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who pulled out of the rerun after the electoral commission failed to heed his demands to replace staff implicated in rigging.

“The probability is very high, 80 to 90 percent, of the result being challenged in court,” Charles Kanjama, managing partner at Muma & Kanjama Advocates, said by phone from Nairobi, the capital, on Friday.

The election standoff has dimmed the growth outlook in Kenya, one of Africa’s top performers over the past decade, with consumers paring back spending and companies putting projects on hold. Even if President Uhuru Kenyatta, 56, does hold onto office for a second term, he’ll face a challenge in asserting his authority and rebuilding battered investor confidence.

Economic Losses

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance, a business lobby group, estimates that the prolonged unrest and uncertainty has already lopped the equivalent of $6.75 billion off the nation’s $71 billion gross domestic product. The Nairobi Securities Exchange All Share Index has dropped 5.5 percent since the election outcome was declared void on Sept. 1, while the yield on the government’s international bonds due in 2024 has climbed 35 basis points to 6.31 percent.

“This election has no winners but several losers,” Dismas Mokua, an analyst at Nairobi-based risk advisory firm Trintari, said by phone. “National prosperity has been compromised. The voter turnout de-legitimizes the Uhuru Kenyatta win.”

Results from about three-quarters of the polling stations showed Kenyatta, who leads the ruling Jubilee Party, secured 98.2 percent of votes cast. Odinga, whose name remained on the ballot paper despite his withdrawal, won 1 percent. No voting occurred at 3,635 of the 40,883 polling stations, the electoral commission said.

Election Boycott

“The opposition’s call for an election boycott looks like it was successful,” Nanjala Nyabola, a Nairobi-based independent analyst, said by email. “It looks like it was a national boycott. For the Jubilee administration, this is really embarrassing.”

While the Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission initially planned to reschedule the vote in four western opposition strongholds until Saturday, it called off those plans as violent clashes continued and the opposition urged its supporters to stay home. Television footage showed police firing tear gas and live ammunition at protesters, who pelted them with stones and barricaded roads with rocks and burning tires.

Patrick Lumumba, director of the Kenya School of Law, said the results of the election should still stand even if voting didn’t happen in the four districts.

Valid Vote

“The duty of the IEBC is to supply the voting material,” he said by phone from Nairobi. “If the voters themselves stop them from doing that, then it will still have exercised its statutory and constitutional duties. The vote remains valid. Voting is not compulsory in Kenya. There is no turnout threshold.”

The four-party National Super Alliance will announce what it plans do next on Oct. 30, Odinga, 72, told a cheering crowd in Kibera, Nairobi’s biggest slum, on Friday. He’s previously said he wouldn’t challenge the election outcome in court and that Nasa would instead embark on a peaceful defiance campaign to ensure “fresh, free and fair presidential elections” were held within 90 days.

Musalia Mudavadi, Odinga’s running mate, said the election rerun was a farce, had exposed the country to international ridicule and left it more divided than ever before.

“Uhuru lost the elections in August,” Mudavadi told reporters in Nairobi. “He has once again lost this sham one, in which he has basically been running against himself.”

Election Fatigue

Jubilee regards the electoral process as complete and Kenyatta will be sworn in after the official declaration of results, said David Murathe, the party’s vice chairman.

“It doesn’t matter even if turnout was 10 percent,” he said. “People are fed up with the elections. They want to go on with their lives. If there are court cases, we will deal with them when we get there.”

Peter Wanyande, a politics professor at the University of Nairobi, said the ruling party’s insistence that the vote had to go ahead despite warnings from the electoral commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati that its credibility couldn’t be guaranteed, boded ill for democracy in Kenya.

“Kenya is going to be difficult to govern and there will be continuous chaos,” he said. “Nobody can claim that what is being done is happening in an atmosphere that can guarantee free and fair voting.”

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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EFCC Declares Former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, Wanted Over N80.2 Billion Money Laundering Allegations

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has escalated its pursuit of justice by declaring former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, wanted over alleged money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion.

In a first-of-its-kind action, the EFCC announced Bello’s wanted status in connection with the alleged embezzlement of funds during his tenure as governor.

The commission, armed with a 19-count criminal charge, accused Bello and his cohorts of conspiring to launder the hefty sum, which was purportedly diverted from state coffers for personal gain.

The declaration of Bello as a wanted fugitive came after a series of failed attempts by the EFCC to effect his arrest.

Despite an ex-parte order from Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, mandating the EFCC to apprehend and produce Bello in court for arraignment, the former governor managed to evade capture with the reported assistance of his successor, Governor Usman Ododo.

This latest development shows the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in holding powerful individuals accountable for their actions.

However, it also demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the EFCC to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is served, irrespective of the status or influence of the accused.

In response to the EFCC’s declaration, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, issued a stern warning to Bello, stating that fleeing from the law would not resolve the allegations against him.

Fagbemi urged Bello to honor the EFCC’s invitation and cooperate with the investigation process, saying it is important to uphold the rule of law and respect the authority of law enforcement agencies.

The EFCC’s pursuit of Bello underscores the agency’s mandate to combat corruption and financial crimes, sending a strong message that individuals implicated in corrupt practices will be held accountable for their actions.

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Concerns Mount Over Security as National Identity Card Issuance Shifts to Banks

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Amidst the National Identity Management Commission’s (NIMC) recent announcement that the issuance of the proposed new national identity card will be facilitated through applicants’ respective banks, concerns are escalating regarding the security implications of involving financial institutions in the distribution process.

The federal government, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), introduced a new identity card with payment functionality, aimed at streamlining access to social and financial services.

However, the decision to utilize banks as distribution channels has sparked apprehension among industry stakeholders.

Mr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, clarified that applicants would request the card by providing their National Identification Number (NIN) through various channels, including online portals, NIMC offices, or their respective banks.

Adegoke emphasized that the new National ID Card would serve as a single, multipurpose card, encompassing payment functionality, government services, and travel documentation.

Despite NIMC’s assurances, concerns have been raised regarding the necessity and security implications of introducing a new identity card system when an operational one already exists.

Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, President of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers, questioned the rationale behind the new General Multipurpose Card (GMPC), citing NIMC’s existing mandate to issue such cards under Act No. 23 of 2007.

Ogunbanjo highlighted the successful implementation of MobileID by NIMC, which has provided identity verification for over 15 million individuals.

He expressed apprehension about integrating the new ID card with existing MobileID systems and raised concerns about data privacy and unauthorized duplication of ID cards.

Moreover, stakeholders are seeking clarification on the responsibilities for card blocking, replacement, and delivery in case of loss or theft, given the involvement of multiple parties, including banks, in the issuance process.

The shift towards utilizing banks for identity card issuance raises fundamental questions about data security, privacy, and the integrity of the identification process.

With financial institutions playing a pivotal role in distributing sensitive government documents, there are valid concerns about potential vulnerabilities and risks associated with this approach.

As the debate surrounding the security implications of the new national identity card continues to intensify, stakeholders are calling for greater transparency, accountability, and collaboration between government agencies and financial institutions to address these concerns effectively.

The paramount importance of safeguarding citizens’ personal information and ensuring the integrity of the identity verification process cannot be overstated, especially in an era of increasing digital interconnectedness and heightened cybersecurity threats.

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Israeli President Declares Iran’s Actions a ‘Declaration of War’

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Israeli President Isaac Herzog has characterized the recent series of attacks from Iran as nothing short of a “declaration of war” against the State of Israel.

This proclamation comes amidst escalating tensions between the two nations, with Iran’s aggressive actions prompting serious concerns within Israel and the international community.

The sequence of events leading to Herzog’s grave assessment began with a barrage of 300 ballistic missiles and drones launched by Iran towards Israel over the weekend.

While the Israeli defense forces managed to intercept a significant portion of these projectiles, the sheer scale of the assault sent shockwaves through the region.

President Herzog’s assertion of war was underscored by Israel’s careful consideration of its response options and ongoing discussions with its global partners.

The gravity of the situation prompted the convening of the G7, where member nations reaffirmed their commitment to Israel’s security, recognizing the severity of Iran’s actions.

However, the United States, a key ally of Israel, took a nuanced stance. President Joe Biden conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that, given the limited casualties and damage resulting from the attacks, the US would not support retaliatory strikes against Iran.

This position, though strategic, reflects a delicate balancing act in maintaining stability in the volatile Middle East region.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian cautioned against further escalation, emphasizing the potential for heightened tensions and provocative acts to exacerbate the situation.

In response to the escalating crisis, the Nigerian government issued a call for restraint, urging both Iran and Israel to prioritize peaceful resolution and diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.

This appeal reflects the broader international consensus on the need to prevent further escalation and mitigate the risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

As Israel grapples with the implications of Iran’s aggressive actions and weighs its response options, President Herzog reiterated Israel’s commitment to peace while emphasizing the need to defend its people.

Despite calls for restraint from global allies, Israel remains vigilant in safeguarding its security amidst the growing threat posed by Iran’s belligerent behavior.

The coming days are likely to be critical as Israel navigates the complexities of its response while international efforts intensify to defuse the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.

The specter of war looms large, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic engagement and concerted efforts to prevent further escalation in the region.

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