The Supreme Court of Kenya has begun hearing Raila Odinga’s presidential election appeal, which challenges the outcome of the August 9 presidential election, which was won by William Ruto.
The seven bench judges, led by Martha Koome, began pre-trial proceedings on Tuesday. This follows the dismissal of two affidavits on Monday.
“The judiciary has had an opportunity to settle two election petitions of the nature set out under artical [inaudible] of the constitution. The judiciary is experienced in settling the question, Kenyans have faith in the judiciary. We must all have faith in the judiciary and I am sure that this election petition will be handled well by the Supreme Court, and the outcome shall be respected,” said Tom Ojienda, Raila Odinga’s lawyer.
The earlier ruling ruled out Odinga’s involvement in the turmoil that occurred at Kenya’s national tally center when the head of the electoral commission intended to declare the president-elect.
The 77-year-old senior politician, who was running for the sixth time in the presidential election and was endorsed by current President Uhuru Kenyatta and his party, was defeated by a margin of over 230,000 votes (50.49% to 48.85%).
Raila Odinga: I will obey the Supreme Court’s decision on the poll petition.
In a declaration to the court, Ruto stated that Odinga had previously “systematically contested the presidential election results and fomented national crises after losing He accused the former prime minister of attempting to destabilize the country “to try his luck again by using legal means to force a new candidacy
Mr. Ruto stated that it is “against the public interest” to put the country in a constant election campaign, adding that the uncertainty would further harm Kenya’s ailing economy, which is already grappling with rising inflation.
The Odinga campaign argues that 140,028 ballots were not counted, which “seriously influences the final results insofar as none of the (…) contestants exceed the constitutional threshold of 50%+1 votes” to win the election in the first round, according to the 72-page petition.
Breaking: Kenya’s election results, according to Raila Odinga, are “parodies.”
His appeal must be decided by the courts by September 5. If they order that the election be canceled, a new election must be held within 60 days.
Odinga had dubbed the election commission’s (IEBC) results a “travesty.”
He had already initiated legal challenges following his previous defeats, in 2013 and 2017.
Odinga challenges the presidential election results in court in Kenya.
The Supreme Court nullified the presidential election in 2017 because of “irregularities” and ordered a new election, a first in Africa.
In 2007, Odinga similarly rejected the results without going to court, sparking the country’s worst post-election crisis in history, with over 1,100 people killed in inter-ethnic riots.
