[JURIST] Kenya’s Supreme Court ruled on Saturday that the results of the country’s presidential election earlier this month are valid, confirming that Uhuru Kenyatta [JURIST news archive], the son of Kenya’s first president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, will be the next president. The unanimous verdict [AP report] by the court stated that the election was “conducted in compliance with the constitution and the law,” but did not give reasons for the decision. The results of the election had been challenged [JURIST report] earlier this month by Prime Minister Raila Odinga [Al Jazeera profile], Kenyatta’s top opponent, who alleged that there were widespread voting irregularities. Pursuant to the court’s decision, Kenyatta will be sworn in next month.

Kenyatta is currently facing International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] charges of crimes against humanity for violence following the 2007 election. Earlier this month Kenyatta’s lawyer asked the ICC to drop the charges [JURIST report] against him for lack of evidence, but the prosecution refused. Kenyatta’s request was based on the ICC’s withdrawal [decision, PDF] of charges against co-defendant Francis Muthaura for lack of evidence. Kenyatta’s lawyers claimed the evidence against Muthaura and Kenyatta was the same, but the prosecution disagreed. Kenyatta’s trial was previously postponed [JURIST report], and it will begin on July 9.