Kenyatta cleared to be sworn in
GOVERNMENT
By BiztechAfrica – March 30, 2013, 5:04 p.m.
By Semaj Itosno, Nairobi, Kenya
The Kenyan Supreme Court has dismissed challenges to the election of Kenya’s President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta, and Raila Odinga has conceded defeat.
Six judges of Kenya’s Supreme Court have unanimously dismissed all five petitions in the case challenging Uhuru Kenyatta’s election.
Announcing the verdict on Saturday afternoon, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said details of the verdict shall be available in two weeks.
The re-tallying was part of the court’s order following a petition by Kenya’s current Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who claimed he lost the presidential election unfairly to Kenyatta. Odinga had wanted the judges to quash the declaration of Kenyatta as the president-elect and order a fresh presidential election.
The Supreme Court started sittings on Monday at the start of the Pre-Trial hearings that went through to Tuesday. The hearings kicked off on Wednesday and ended on Friday morning with comments on the re-tally ordered by the court. Trouble started after the voter tallying electronic system used by Kenya’s electoral body failed prompting return to use of manual systems.
In light of the verdict issued today, the Prime Minister has now conceded defeat and wished Kenyatta and his team well, saying he respected the court decision.
Kenyatta is now expected to be sworn in as Kenya’s fourth president on April 9.
