■ Questions électorales

By Tayuh Ngenge, Programme Officer, Internatinal IDEA

If the peaceful conduct of Kenya's recent presidential elections was anything to test the development of the country's new democratic culture, what happened in its aftermath bears even greater testimony to the fact that the culture of rule of law, democracy and constitutionalism may finally be taking root in Kenya as a nation and Kenyans as a people.

After Kenya's election body – the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya– declared Uhuru Kenyatta, son of Kenya's first President, the winner of the March 4 presidential elections by a slim margin (50.07%), his main rival, Raila Odinga seised the Supreme Court, contesting the results.

Polls delayed as judges say supreme constitutional court should have final say on law allegedly favouring Muslim Brotherhood. The move threatens to exacerbate frustrations in a deeply polarised country where several cities are once again experiencing significant civil unrest. But the decision to refer the legislation to the SCC creates further uncertainty, because it remains unclear how the Muslim Brotherhood will react; what, if anything, the court will change in the new electoral legislation; and how long this new delay will take. Zaid al-Ali, an expert on the Egyptian constitution, and a senior adviser on constitutional building for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance