NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 20 – The Supreme Court verdict that upheld President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election in the October poll has elicited mixed reactions across the country, with celebrations in many parts including Nairobi, Nyeri and Eldoret among others.
Those interviewed described the Supreme Court judges as free and fair, saying they are now waiting for the swearing-in next week.
“Two weeks ago I really prayed that Uhuru should be declared the President and that prayer was heard. I told God that I know Uhuru will win since he is a President of all people be it Kikuyu, Luo, Kalenjin or any other tribe,” one woman in Nyeri stated.
“I wish to salute the Supreme Court for living up to the expectations of the seven million-plus people who woke up very early in the morning to exercise their duty as Kenyans,” another supporter of the Head of State indicated.
Some people also spoke to Capital FM News in Nairobi.
“He has a very big task ahead of him and we are praying to God that everything will be okay and this nation will move forward. We are very happy about what has happened and we are praying that everything works out well,” one of them stated.
In Kisumu, a vehicle was burnt in Kondele and most businesses were hurriedly closed as angry youths barricaded roads soon after the verdict was read out as
“The ruling by Maraga was not as I expected. We thought that it would be different. As NASA supporters, we are now waiting for ‘Baba’ to talk and what he says, we will do,” one of the NASA leader’s supporters said.
“The judges looked at the case wholly and decided that it was done constitutionally, so everyone should respect and abide by the ruling,” one Nairobi resident stated.
Attorney General Githu Muigai also hailed the ruling saying that it was a well deserved win since the Head of State followed due process in every step.
“There will always be errors in an election but you cannot invalidate an election unless those errors and discrepancies are of such a nature as to affect the actual outcome. That is the law globally and that is the law we would want to re-write here so that the courts are well guided on the same,” he opined.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale says the ruling will now pave the way for the Head of State to continue with his transformative agenda.
“Today we are happy that following the due process, the win of the President now has been validated by the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision. Raila Odinga and his colleagues participated in making the Constitution of Kenya in 2010,” he stated.
The Supreme Court in a unanimous decision, dismissed the petitions challenging the validity of the October 26 presidential election.
The bench found that the two petitions, that of Harun Mwau and that of Khelef Khalifa and Njonjo Mwau, failed to show that the poll was so fundamentally flawed to warrant nullification.
And while the bench has 21 days to deliver its full judgement, the preparation of the petitions themselves is likely to have contributed to their dismissal on account of the questions raised by the judges during their hearing last week.
Justice Jackton Ojwang for instance questioned the manner in which Mue and Khalifa sought to introduce IEBC Commissioner Roselyne Akombe’s resignation letter into evidence.
Source-capitalfm.co.ke
Nairobi, Nyeri and Eldoret erupt in jubilation as Kenyatta’s win upheld
