Political crisis deepens as judges' absence means vote goes ahead

NASA supporters carry banners during a rally at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya. (Photo: Courtesy)

The country plunged deeper into crisis on Wednesday after a no-show by the majority of Supreme Court judges scuppered an eleventh-hour petition to delay a presidential election and the governor of a volatile opposition region endorsed rebellion against the state.

Within minutes of Supreme Court chief justice David Maraga announcing that five judges had failed to turn up, preventing a quorum, hundreds of supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga took to the streets of Kisumu, his main stronghold.