Declaring life will not come to an end, Raila Odinga has urged Kenyans to maintain peace and stay calm today as the Supreme Court rules on his presidential petition.
This is the NASA leader’s second presidential challenge after his first was thrown out five years ago in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta. If the court rules in his favour, it will become the first African court ever to nullify a presidential election.
The seven-member bench will either order another presidential election or clear the way to swear in Kenyatta for a second term. Last night the judges, aided by 40 experts, were burning the midnight oil at Nairobi’s Windsor Hotel, writing the judgment they must deliver before 6pm today.
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In anticipation of sporadic violence after the ruling, security has been heightened with major deployments and anti-riot and crowd control drills.
In a message relayed to supporters by Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Raila said Kenyans should be peaceful during and after the court decision. The message was delivered during the burial of Christabel Ouko, widow of assassinated Cabinet minister Robert Ouko.
“Whatever happens today, we are winners. Go to church and temples to give thanks to God,” he said. “A soldier lives to fight another battle, therefore, today the world is not coming to an end,” Raila said.
He said peace is crucial for unity and national development of the country. Whichever way the court decision goes, Kenyans must remain composed and cohesive, he said. Nyong’o said Raila was held up in Nairobi and could not make it to the burial.
NASA went to the Supreme Court to challenge the results of a presidential election, which it says was rigged. The opposition wants Uhuru’s victory nullified. According to the IEBC, President Uhuru Kenyatta won the August 8 election by 1.4 million votes but Raila said the results are false.
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