John Adoyi, PBA Journalism Mentee
Raila Odinga, opposition candidate in the recent Kenya presidential election has inaugurated a 42-man legal team to challenge the victory of William Ruto.
Mr. Ruto, the incumbent vice president, was declared winner of the August 9th presidential election, but Odinga and some top electoral officials rejected the result.
Odinga and his running mate, Martha Karua, had on Monday filed a petition at the Kenya’s Supreme Court, seeking some reliefs which include, an order compelling the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) to conduct fresh election, inspection of the commission’s server and forensic audit of all sensitive electoral materials, among others.
Odinga a former Prime Minister of Kenya, contested under the Azimio la Umoja, one of the county’s main coalition party.
Unveiling his Legal team, Mr. Odinga said Mr. James Orengo would for the second time be his led counsel at the Supreme Court.
Mr. Orengo who is also the Governor-elect of the Siaya County in Kenya, successfully argued the nullification of the 2017 presidential election that saw a re-run won by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“We are pleased that our Presidential Election petition has buoyed the spirits of Kenyans that justice will prevail, and that they did not cast their ballots for Azimio in vain. We have assembled the best team of lawyers in Kenya. The team is led by Lead Counsel, SC James Orengo along with SC Pheroze Nowrojee, SC Philip Murgor, and SC Okongo Omogeni,” said Mr. Odinga through his Presidential Campaign Secretariat Spokesperson, Makau Mutua.
IEBC had earlier declared Deputy President William Ruto of the UDA party as president elect, after he pulled 50 per cent of the total votes casts.
Challenging the result of the election, Mr. Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua had said that the Supreme Court should annul the election arguing that there is no outright winner because Mr. Ruto did not get the 50 percent of the total vote cast. And also the result is “illegal, invalid, and null and void.”
Speaking to his supporters after filing his petition at the Supreme Court on Monday, Mr. Odinga said.
“This is a do-or-die battle for the corruption cartels who have everything to lose to the forces of democracy,” … For the sake of Kenya’s future, the corruption network must not only be stopped, it must also be crushed.”
He also said his team has enough evidence to shame the thief and that justice will prevail.
This is Mr. Odinga’s 5th bid for the presidency and his third successive court battle with the Supreme Court of Kenya.
Judges now have 14 days to issue a ruling. If they order an annulment, a new vote must be held within 60 days.
