Foreign

Ruto’s Bodyguards Injured after Car Somersaults

By Web News 328

At least two members of the Kenyan president’s security team have been injured after their car rolled over on a road in the Rift Valley district of Naivasha.

The vehicle was part of a motorcade that was on its way back to the capital, Nairobi, on Wednesday after President William Ruto had attended an event to flag off the WRC Safari Rally competition.

Mr Ruto is said not to have been in the motorcade as he had flown by helicopter.

It was not clear what caused the accident. Witnesses told local media that the driver had been trying to negotiate a sharp bend.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

BBC / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Foreign

Ruto Pushes for Direct Talks With Sudan Rivals

By Web News 873

Kenya’s President, William Ruto has expressed his country’s commitment to a “face-to-face” meeting with the warring generals in Sudan in order to resolve the crisis there.

He said Kenya as the chair of the regional “quartet” of countries on Sudan that also includes Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan – “commits to meet the two parties face-to-face to find a lasting solution”.

Fighting has been raging in Sudan since 15 April between the army, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by former deputy military chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.

Mr Ruto said the quartet leaders would in the next three weeks meet to “begin the process of an inclusive national dialogue” in Sudan.

In two weeks, a humanitarian corridor would also be established to allow the distribution of aid, according to a statement by the president’s office after a summit of the regional bloc Igad in Djibouti.

Saudi Arabia and the US have been leading mediation efforts between the parties since the conflict began. Multiple ceasefire agreements since then have been broken.

The conflict has led to the deaths of hundreds of people, many others wounded, and forced millions to flee.

BBC / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Politics

Osinbajo in Kenya for Ruto’s Inauguration

By Web News 445

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN is representing Nigeria in Kenya at the East African nation’s inauguration of William Ruto as its 5th President.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande in a statement on Monday said he departed Abuja and will join other leaders across Africa and beyond for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to hold in Nairobi.

About 20 heads of state are expected to grace the event where outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta will hand over the instruments of power including a ceremonial sword and a copy of Kenya’s Constitution to the new president, whose electoral victory in last month’s election was affirmed by the country’s Supreme Court only last week.

The Vice President was accompanied by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, and the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

He is expected to return to Abuja after the event today

FRCN Abuja, Titilayo Kupoliyi

Foreign

William Ruto Sworn in as President

By Web News 363

Tens of thousands of people cheered as William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya’s president at a ceremony in the capital Nairobi following his narrow election win last month.

With his hand on a Bible, the 55-year-old swore to preserve and protect the country’s constitution.

Defeated candidate Raila Odinga did not attend, saying he had “serious concerns” about his opponent’s victory.

Mr Ruto won the election with 50.5% of the vote, to Mr Odinga’s 48.8%.

Mr Odinga has alleged that the result was rigged, but the Supreme Court has ruled the election was free and fair.

At least eight people were reported to have been injured in a crush as they jostled to enter the stadium to witness the swearing-in of both Mr Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

But inside the stadium the crowd was in high-sprits, with frequent cheering, waiving the Kenyan flag, and pockets of groups proudly wearing yellow – the colour synonymous with Mr Ruto’s campaign.

Mr Ruto was handed a copy of Kenya’s constitution and a sword to represent the transfer of power.

There was also a handshake between outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Ruto, his former deputy with whom he fell out during their second term in office.

Religion was a persistent theme throughout the swearing-in ceremony, with leaders from the Christian and Islamic faiths offering prayers for the new president.

Bishop Mark Kariuki said God had showcased his might by elevating Mr Ruto, who was once a roadside chicken seller, to the presidency.

M Kenyatta has stepped down at the end of his two terms. He backed Mr Odinga in the election, saying Mr Ruto was unworthy to serve as president.

Mr Kenyatta congratulated Mr Ruto on his win only a day before his inauguration.

Mr Kenyatta said he was committed to a peaceful transition and urged the new president to serve all Kenyans.

In a statement, Mr Odinga said he had received a call from Mr Ruto inviting him to the inauguration, but that he would not attend as he was abroad and he did not believe the election was free and fair.

This is despite the fact that the Supreme Court handed down a unanimous judgment, confirming Mr Ruto’s victory and dismissing Mr Odinga’s concerns that the election was marred by widespread irregularities.

Mr Ruto won after portraying himself as a “hustler” who was challenging an attempt by two dynasties – the Odingas and Kenyattas – to hang on to power.

He promised a “bottoms-up” approach to the economy to tackle the high unemployment rate among young people and to improve the lives of those less well off.

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Foreign

Kenya’s Supreme Court Upholds Ruto’s Victory in Presidential Vote

By Web News 363

Kenya’s Supreme Court on Monday upheld results declaring William Ruto winner of last month’s presidential elections.

Ruto, 55, won with 50.49% of the vote against his rival Raila Odinga’s 48.85%, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced in August.

The announcement of the results then descended into chaos in an otherwise peaceful election process when four members of the electoral commission rejected them, declaring the tallying “opaque.”

Odinga, 77, also later disputed the results in the Supreme Court alleging that hackers had accessed the electoral body’s website, deducted his votes and added them to Ruto’s, among other claims of irregularities.

His party, the Azimio La Umoja (Aspiration to Unite) coalition, claimed it had enough evidence in the petition to prove misconduct by the electoral commission after the August 9 election.

However, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected his claims and upheld the results announced by the IEBC.

Chief Justice Martha Koome, delivering the ruling Monday, said the court found no evidence of tampering of results via hacking and that the “IEBC carried out the verification, tallying, and declaration of results in accordance with the provided constitutional law.”

Security was tight ahead of the announcement and Kenya’s security forces are on high alert in areas of the country where violence could break out.

Odinga’s legal team had asked the court to either declare him the winner or order a re-election.

This is Odinga’s fifth time running and his third time challenging his loss in presidential elections through the Supreme Court, having filed a case after the last two elections in 2013 and 2017.

In 2017, the Supreme Court made history when it ordered re-election, which was boycotted by Odinga who again lost to incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta.

CNN/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Foreign

William Ruto Wins Kenya’s Presidential Poll

By Web News 789

Deputy President William Ruto has won Kenya’s presidential election, the electoral commission chairman has said, amid dramatic scenes.

He narrowly beat his rival, Raila Odinga, taking 50.4% of the vote.

The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr Odinga’s campaign.

Four of the seven members of the electoral commission refused to endorse the announcement, saying the results were “opaque”.

“We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election,” said Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

“We are going to give a comprehensive statement… and again we urge Kenyans to keep calm. There is an open door that people can go to court and the rule of law will prevail,” she said.

Mr Odinga’s party agent earlier alleged that there were “irregularities” and “mismanagement” in the election.

This was the first time Mr Ruto, 55, had run for president. He has served as deputy president for 10 years, but fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed Mr Odinga to succeed him.

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon