Kenya's Supreme Court Upholds Kenyatta Victory

Uhuru Kenyatta won the historic Kenyan poll

Kenya’s Supreme Court says the results of the country’s March 4 presidential election are valid and that Uhuru Kenyatta has won.

Saturday’s verdict — following a drawn-out court case that riveted the nation — means that Kenyatta will be sworn in as president early next month.

Kenyatta will become the second sitting president in Africa to face charges at the International Criminal Court. He and Deputy President-elect William Ruto both face charges related to having helped orchestrate the 2007-08 postelection violence.

Both deny the charges. Ruto’s trial is set to begin in late May; Kenyatta’s is to start in July. Kenyatta has promised to report to The Hague.

“It is the decision that the third and fourth respondents were validly elected,” Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said in court, referring to Kenyatta and his running mate and deputy president William Ruto.

Lawyers for challenger Raila Odinga argued before the Supreme Court that the election was marred by irregularities.