Kenya poll ‘fake news’ undermines rule of law

Bloomberg

An upsurge in fake news, hate speech and ethnic-profiling after Kenya’s Supreme Court nullified the presidential election risks undermining the East African country’s constitution and institutions, the embassies of the US, UK and 14 other
nations said.
Kenyan authorities should hold to account those responsible for incitement and ensure the safety of those wrongly attacked, including people working at foreign embassies, the missions said on Tuesday in an emailed statement, without describing specific incidents. The embassies also condemned “malicious” documents about the judiciary that have been publicly circulated and “contain false statements that could endanger lives.”
Kenya’s Supreme Court nullified the outcome of the August 8 ballot, the first time a presidential election result has been legally overturned in Africa, after finding the electoral commission committed “irregularities and illegalities” and failed to conduct the vote in line with the constitution. The court has until September 21 to issue a written judgment that will probably provide reasons for its decision and possible remedies.
A rerun of the vote between President Uhuru Kenyatta
and opposition candidate
Raila Odinga is scheduled for October 17.