The Supreme Court of Kenya will convene a pre-trial conference on Tuesday, November 14 as part of its initial stages to determine the petitions challenging President Uhuru Kenyatta's win in the October 26 poll.
According to Article 140 (2) of the Constitution, the Court has fourteen days from the date of filing the petition challenging the outcome of a presidential election to make a determination.
In addition, the court guidelines indicate that a pre-trial conference should be convened within eight days of the filing of petitions, a term which expires on Monday.
Rule no 8 of The Supreme Court Act of the Supreme Court (Presidential Elections petition) indicates that: "There shall be a pre-trial conference on the eighth day after the filing of the petition."
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During the pretrial conference, the Supreme Court bench will give essential guidelines to parties litigating the matters including timelines within which the counsel representing various parties shall make their oral submission in court.
On Wednesday, Chief Justice David Maraga directed all respondents named in the petitions to respond to the appeals by 5 pm on Sunday.
Parties who wish to be admitted in the petitions as friends of the court are required to file and serve applications by 5 pm on Monday.
Besides the petitions challenging President Kenyatta's re-election, the Court is also seized of a petition filed ahead of the declaration of the outcome of the October 26 presidential election submitted by activist Okiya Omtatah.
Omtatah is challenging the IEBC's decision to proceed with the conduct of a presidential election without conducting fresh nominations.
Read More: Justice Mwilu to Handle 1st Presidential Petition
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