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| Green light for Kenya's repeat election after court collapses | Green light for Kenya's repeat election after court collapses |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Kenya will hold a controversial repeat presidential election on Thursday as planned, the head of the election commission has announced. | Kenya will hold a controversial repeat presidential election on Thursday as planned, the head of the election commission has announced. |
| Uhuru Kenyatta, who is seeking a second term, won in August but the poll is being held again over irregularities. | Uhuru Kenyatta, who is seeking a second term, won in August but the poll is being held again over irregularities. |
| Opposition candidate Raila Odinga has called on his supporters to join him in boycotting the ballot. | Opposition candidate Raila Odinga has called on his supporters to join him in boycotting the ballot. |
| A bid to delay the election fell apart after only two out of seven Supreme Court judges showed up for a hearing. | A bid to delay the election fell apart after only two out of seven Supreme Court judges showed up for a hearing. |
| One judge, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, failed to appear after her bodyguard was shot and wounded by unknown gunmen on Tuesday. | One judge, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, failed to appear after her bodyguard was shot and wounded by unknown gunmen on Tuesday. |
| The Supreme Court annulled the original election in August by a 4-2 majority, saying there had been "irregularities and illegalities". | The Supreme Court annulled the original election in August by a 4-2 majority, saying there had been "irregularities and illegalities". |
| Some international observers have reduced their involvement in the poll because they say the conditions are not conducive for a free and fair election. | Some international observers have reduced their involvement in the poll because they say the conditions are not conducive for a free and fair election. |
| There have been running battles between police firing tear gas and stone-throwing protesters in the city of Kisumu, an opposition stronghold. | There have been running battles between police firing tear gas and stone-throwing protesters in the city of Kisumu, an opposition stronghold. |
| 'Resistance movement' | 'Resistance movement' |
| Election commission chief Wafula Chebukati said the polls would open at 06:00 (03:00 GMT) after being given assurances by the authorities. | Election commission chief Wafula Chebukati said the polls would open at 06:00 (03:00 GMT) after being given assurances by the authorities. |
| "Based on assurances given to this commission by the relevant authorities and security agencies... the elections as scheduled will go on tomorrow, 26 October 2017," said Mr Chebukati. | "Based on assurances given to this commission by the relevant authorities and security agencies... the elections as scheduled will go on tomorrow, 26 October 2017," said Mr Chebukati. |
| But he also complained of threats to the electoral commission's staff and said he could not guarantee their security while at work. | But he also complained of threats to the electoral commission's staff and said he could not guarantee their security while at work. |
| In a speech in Nairobi, Mr Odinga called for "free, fair and credible elections" within 90 days. | |
| He said: "From today we are transforming the Nasa [National Super Alliance] coalition into a resistance movement." | |
| "Do not participate in any way in this sham election," he told cheering supporters. "Convince your friends, neighbours, and everyone else not participate." | "Do not participate in any way in this sham election," he told cheering supporters. "Convince your friends, neighbours, and everyone else not participate." |
| Reversing an earlier call for massive demonstrations, he asked people to stay at home or pray because the government was a "bloodthirsty regime" which would "massacre" them. | Reversing an earlier call for massive demonstrations, he asked people to stay at home or pray because the government was a "bloodthirsty regime" which would "massacre" them. |
| Earlier, Chief Justice David Maraga announced that a petition to delay the vote could not be heard because only two of the court's seven judges had shown up. | Earlier, Chief Justice David Maraga announced that a petition to delay the vote could not be heard because only two of the court's seven judges had shown up. |
| In addition to Ms Mwilu, one judge was said to be ill and receiving treatment abroad, another was out of the capital Nairobi and could not get a flight back, and two others were unavailable for undisclosed reasons. | In addition to Ms Mwilu, one judge was said to be ill and receiving treatment abroad, another was out of the capital Nairobi and could not get a flight back, and two others were unavailable for undisclosed reasons. |
| The main opposition party says this is no coincidence and is a sign of the intimidation of the country's independent institutions, the BBC's Tomi Oladipo reports from Nairobi. | The main opposition party says this is no coincidence and is a sign of the intimidation of the country's independent institutions, the BBC's Tomi Oladipo reports from Nairobi. |
| Where were the judges? | Where were the judges? |
| Judges who voted to annul August poll | Judges who voted to annul August poll |
| Judges who dissented, saying results should be respected | Judges who dissented, saying results should be respected |
| On sick leave | On sick leave |
| The government had declared Wednesday a national holiday to allow people to travel to places where they were registered to vote. | The government had declared Wednesday a national holiday to allow people to travel to places where they were registered to vote. |
| Political tensions have sparked fears of unrest. After the 2007 poll, violence left over 1,600 people dead and thousands displaced. | Political tensions have sparked fears of unrest. After the 2007 poll, violence left over 1,600 people dead and thousands displaced. |