Kenya Election: Supreme Court Throws Out Odinga’s Petition, Upholds Ruto’s Victory

The mood of Kenyans is that of mixed feelings as the Supreme Court on Monday struck out the petition filed by Raila Odinga, the opposition candidate, challenging the outcome of the recent presidential election in the country.

Odinga, a 77-year-old former prime minister of the East African country who contested for the position of president on the platform of Azimio la Umoja, one Kenya coalition, had rejected the outcome of the election in which incumbent deputy president, William Ruto emerged as the winner.

READ ALSO: Kenya elections: Opposition Candidate Raila Odinga Files Petition In Court

In the petition filed at the Supreme Court, Odinga claimed that there were cases of electoral fraud enough to change the victory of William Ruto in the August 9 presidential elections.

However, Chief Justice Martha Koome read out the verdict on behalf of the seven Judges of the Supreme Court, on Monday ruling out his claims. 

In the ruling which was televised, Justice Koome while declaring that it is the unanimous decision of the court, said “This court upholds the election of the first respondent (William Ruto) as the president-elect.”  

This is the third successive election that Mr. Odinga had gone to challenge at the Supreme Court.

He lost in 2013, He achieved a re-run in 2017 but boycotted the election saying that he is not satisfied with the preparedness of the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission.

Now he just lost his bid for the third time at the hands of the Supreme Court.
Details later…