Odinga’s options run out as 4th bid to lead Kenya falters

Bloomberg

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga’s chances of overturning the outcome of last week’s elections are fading, as he faces international pressure to take his allegations of vote rigging to court and the security forces crack down
on his supporters.
The US, European Union and African Union have all urged Odinga to seek legal recourse if he wants to challenge the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s declaration of President Uhuru Kenyatta, 55, as the winner of the August 8 vote. While Odinga was due to announce his next step on Tuesday, senior officials from his five-party National Super Alliance have said filing a lawsuit isn’t an option — an indication they may resort to protest action to try and nullify the results.
Odinga’s claims that proper counting procedures weren’t followed and that the electoral commission’s computer systems were hacked have yet to be substantiated, according to Patrick Lumumba, director of the Kenya School of Law. While the courts are the only appropriate forum for challenging the election, the opposition knows it stands little chance of winning, he said.
“My view is that the electoral commission has done
a commendable job,” Lumumba said in a phone inter-
view. “I have no doubt the current administration was validly elected.”