Kenya’s Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the election of President-elect William Ruto in last month’s presidential vote, paving the way for him to be sworn in next week on Tuesday.
“We declare the election of the first respondent as President-elect to be valid…” CJ Koome ruled at 1:34 PM.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati, on August 15, 2022, declared William Ruto the winner after garnering 7,176,141 votes, representing 50.49 per cent of the total votes cast and he achieved the minimum number of 39 counties at 25%.
His main rival Raila Odinga of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition party got 6,942,930 votes representing 48 per cent of the votes cast.
While delivering the abridged version of the judgement, Chief Justice Martha Koome said the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was electoral malfeasance to warrant annulment.
“It is our finding that the declared President-Elect attained 50% +1 of all the votes cast in accordance with article 138.4 of the constitution,” she ruled.
The apex court also dismissed all of the nine petitions that had been presented before it to show the need to annul the election of President-Elect Ruto.
According to the Constitution, President-Elect Ruto is set to be sworn in next week Tuesday.