Kenya Supreme Court dismisses Raila Odinga’s challenge to the presidential election results
By Emma Ogbuehi
Kenya Supreme Court upholds election of William Ruto as country’s 5th president. The chief justice who delivered the judgement of the Court, rejected all of the arguments of the petitioners
“We’re satisfied that [electoral commission] carried out verification, tallying & declaration of results in accordance with constitution,” the Judges said.
William Ruto is the president-elect of Kenya
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Buhari congratulates Ruto on winning Kenya presidential election
His main challenger Odinga had said the result of the August 9 Presidential election was fraudulent and went to the Supreme Court to get the outcome overturned. But in a unanimous decision, the Judges led by the Chief Justice Martha Koome threw out a petition brought by Odinga.
“This is a unanimous decision of the court … this court upholds the election of the first respondent (William Ruto) as the president-elect,” Koome, the chief justice and head of the court, said during a televised ruling.
With the judgement, Ruto, 55, who has been serving as outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s deputy since 2013, would be sworn in as the fifth president of the East African country.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had shortly after the declaration of Ruto as the winner, sent him a congratulatory message in which he also commended the people of Kenya for the peaceful and transparent outcome of the elections.
Buhari said the conduct of the election had again demonstrated that the democratic process, values and principles remain the best way for the people to select their leaders and hold them accountable.
According to him, Nigeria values Kenya as a strategic partner in the fight against terrorism and violence extremism.
He believed that the partnership was buoyed by a long history of friendship, economic and trade ties.
While wishing Ruto a successful inauguration and tenure in office, Buhari said he looked forward to more fruitful and robust engagements between the two countries.
Buhari observed that the two countries shared priorities such as enhancing peace and security on the continent, democracy, and greater economic prosperity and social development.
Buhari saluted President Kenyatta for his statesmanship and exemplary leadership to the people of Kenya in the past nine years.
Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati said that Ruto won almost 7.18 million votes (50.49 percent) in the August 9 vote, against 6.94 million (48.85 percent) for his rival Raila Odinga.
Ruto, in his acceptance speech said: “It was God that brought us here. My team and I will make sure that the sacrifices made by many Kenyans is not in vain, we will not let them down. I am confident that this country will come together and we can move forward as one democratic nation.”
- With Agency Reports
