After a long period of authoritarian rule lasting from 1980 to 2002, Kenya seemed to be on the cusp of a full-fledged democracy. On August 8, 2017, the son of the first president (Uhuru Kenyatta) and the son of the first opposition leader (Raila Odinga) went head to head in what seemed like a free and fairly run election.  Yet, in a shocking ruling, the Kenyan Supreme Court nullified the ruling in September 2017.  The following months witnessed a repeat election, and a parallel “swearing in” ceremony by the opposition.  The government shut down Kenyan TV stations for nearly a week creating serious concerns about state censorship and an information void filled by social media. The showdown between the executive and the judiciary has seriously damaged Kenya’s prospects for democracy as well as freedom of expression, while two powerful oligarchs battle for power.