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Kenyatta Urges Opposition To Challenge Election Results In Court

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday reiterated an appeal for the opposition to shun violence and take any complaints to court. Advertisement President Kenyatta made … Continue reading Kenyatta Urges Opposition To Challenge Election Results In Court


Kenyatta Ready For Election, Asks Chief Justice Not To Interfere
File photo: Uhuru Kenyatta, Odinga

Kenyatta Urges Opposition To Challenge Election Results In Court

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday reiterated an appeal for the opposition to shun violence and take any complaints to court.

President Kenyatta made the appeal as opposition leader Raila Odinga, who refused to concede defeat after the country’s presidential election, claimed the whole vote had been rigged.

He said, “To our friends who are yet to accept the outcome, we continue to appeal to them that we have extended our arm and a hand of peace and a hand of friendship and for them to use whatever legal mechanism that has been created by our wonderful Constitution to express their dissatisfaction.”

“But I truly believe there is no single Kenyan anywhere who wants to continue to see violence, looting, and demonstrations that end up destroying property. But if like I said, there are those who are aggrieved and feel that they are not willing to accept, there are also constitution laid down procedures that they can use to express their dissatisfaction while allowing the many millions of Kenyans who wish to continue with their normal lives to do so.”

Kenya’s election commission had on Friday declared Kenyatta the winner of the election by 1.4 million votes.

International observers had also noted that the August 8 vote was largely fair and a parallel tally by domestic monitors supported the outcome.

Following some protests in parts of Nairobi and Kisumu where Odinga has strong support, the Kenya Red Cross on Monday said it had treated 177 people – of whom 108 sustained serious injuries since the election.

Kenyatta also urged the police to exercise restraint after a Kenyan human rights group alleged that 24 people had been shot dead by police since Election Day, but the government put the number of dead at 10.

On Sunday, Odinga had called for a strike to support his claim to the presidency and accused the ruling party of “spilling the blood of innocent people” as he brushed off growing pressure to concede election defeat.

Kenyans, however, re-opened their shops and returned to work on Monday morning as they largely ignored the demands for demonstrations against Kenyatta’s re-election and against the killing of protesters.