Kenya’s president-elect William Ruto said on Wednesday that there was no time to waste in dealing with the country’s economic crisis, as defeated competitor Raila Odinga planned a court appeal to reverse his election loss on Aug. 9.
After a hard fought contest to head East Africa’s richest country, Kenya’s election commission chairman named Ruto president-elect on Monday, but four of the seven electoral commissioners have challenged the results.
Odinga has stated that he will appeal the verdict, calling it a “travesty.” read more
Nonetheless, Ruto stated that he would proceed with the formation of an administration, promising that no Kenyan, regardless of political or ethnic affiliation, would be excluded.
“I want us to understand that the Kenyan people have high expectations. We don’t have the luxury of squandering our time “Ruto stated this after meeting with elected officials from his coalition at his official house.
“If there will be judicial processes, we will engage because we adhere to the rule of law,” the 55-year-old added, without directly addressing Odinga’s pledge to challenge his election.
The successor to President Uhuru Kenyatta will have to solve an economic crisis that has left Kenyans grappling with surging costs and rising unemployment.
His ability to do so will be constrained by debt accumulated during Kenyatta’s ten years in office, during which economic output doubled.
Separately, elected officials from Odinga’s alliance met in the capital to plan their next actions in what is expected to be a protracted court battle over the election result.
Odinga did not speak at the gathering, but his running mate, former justice minister Martha Karua, stated, “Ours is victory deferred.”
“As we investigate legal and constitutional routes, let everyone know that triumph is on its way,” Karua told the conference.
Odinga, a veteran presidential contender in his fifth attempt, has until Monday to file a plea with the Supreme Court.
He’s been down this road before, in 2013 and 2017, when the presidential election result was overturned.
On Wednesday, the court stated that it was prepared to handle any petition and was making preparations just in case.
