Addis Ababa, 1 September 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat takes note of the Judgement of Supreme Court of the Republic of Kenya delivered on 1 September 2017 nullifying the result of the Presidential Election held on 8 August 2017. He further takes note of the order by the Supreme Court to hold fresh presidential election within a period of 60 days as per the Constitution.

The Chairperson expresses his satisfaction that the candidates opted for legal recourse to the dispute arising from the election. He recognises that the Judgment advances a culture of democracy and peace, constitutionalism and rule of law in Kenya and Africa in general as enshrined in the 2000 Constitutive Act of the African Union and the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

The Chairperson calls on all the people of Kenya to fully respect the Judgement of the Supreme Court and to maintain peace amongst themselves and, therefore, repeat what they did so admirably prior to, during and in the immediate aftermath of the elections of 8 August 2017. He implores all candidates, political parties and coalitions to exercise their leadership to encourage their supporters and population as a whole to fully accept the Judgement of the Supreme Court. He further urges all the stakeholders to cooperatively take all necessary measures with a view to ensuring the successful conduct of the fresh election.

The African Union Commission, in collaboration with Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms, will continue to closely monitor the electoral process with a view to ensuring that the will of the Kenyan people is fully respected.