Kenya's outgoing president promises smooth transition

Kenya's outgoing president promises smooth transition

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the country would remain peaceful during the transition period
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the country would remain peaceful during the transition period. Photo: Fredrik Lerneryd / AFP
Source: AFP

New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block and enjoy!

Kenya's outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged Thursday that there would be a smooth transition of power after a hotly disputed election whose outcome could be challenged in court.

Kenyatta had backed his erstwhile foe Raila Odinga in the August 9 poll after falling out with his deputy William Ruto, who won the presidential race by a narrow margin.

The outgoing leader has yet to publicly congratulate Ruto, who has served as deputy president since 2013 and was long considered Kenyatta's heir-apparent.

At a meeting with Kenyan religious leaders on Thursday, Kenyatta "assured them that the process of transition will be smooth", his office said in a statement.

He delivered a similar message to visiting US congressional leaders.

"Kenya will remain steadfast in entrenching the principles of good governance to ensure the country upholds its position of a shining example of democracy in the continent by maintaining peace during this transition period," his office said on Twitter.

Read also

Kenya's Ruto says 'no time to waste' after vote win

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see YEN.com.gh News on your News Feed!

Ruto had been counting on Kenyatta's support for the top job, but in an extraordinary turn of events the president reached a pact with veteran opposition leader Odinga in 2018 that left him sidelined.

On the campaign trail, Kenyatta -- who has served two terms as head of state and could not run again -- had described Ruto as "untrustworthy".

Odinga, who at 77 was making his fifth bid for the presidency, has vowed to pursue all "constitutional and legal" avenues against a result he considers "null and void".

The outcome has also caused a schism within the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Four its seven commissioners have disowned the results and accused the body's head of acting outside the constitution.

Any challenge to the results must be lodged by Monday afternoon with the Supreme Court which then has 14 days to issue a ruling. If it orders an annulment, a new vote must be held within 60 days.

New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.