Uhuru Kenyatta Sworn in as President After Disputed Second Vote

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto have been sworn into office after the Supreme Court upheld their victory after dismissing two petitions that had been filed to invalidate the October 26 repeat poll.

“I, Uhuru Kenyatta in full of realisation of the high calling, I assume as President of the Republic of Kenya. I do swear I will be faithful, will bear true allegiance to the Republic of Kenya. I will obey, protect and defend the Constitution of Kenya…” Uhuru took his oath.

However, his inauguration was at the backdrop where the opposition has vowed not to recognise him as their president.

For the opposition, “We embark on our journey of restoring democracy, just government and legitimate leadership,” the coalition said in a statement.

Raila Odinga, the Opposition leader and former Prime Minister in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday morning said they will continue to push for electoral reforms through civil disobedience.

“We actually call it coronation other than an inauguration because we don’t believe that he’s the legitimately elected leader of Kenya,” he told the BBC.

“We will ensure electoral justice. The struggle will continue through civil disobedience, demonstrations and boycotts until there is electoral justice.”

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 Uhuru Pledges to Focus on  Uniting Kenyans in the Spirit of Inclusivity 

Divided Nation, Rising Debt, Unemployment Ushers Uhuru’s Final Term 

Uhuru, re-elected in Oct 26 repeat poll in a closely contested vote, called for national unity in his speech on Tuesday at the event held at a stadium in the capital, Lusaka, and attended by regional leaders.

Uhuru won 98.26 percent (7,483, 895 votes)  according to the  Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the October 26 repeat poll. Only 39 percent of registered voters took part.

The repeat presidential vote followed an election in August, which Kenyatta also won but which was nullified by the Supreme Court stating it was ‘invalid, null and void’.

The August 8 poll, he garnered 8,203,290 (54.27 per cent) votes against Mr Raila’s 6,762, 224 (44.74 per cent).

Uhuru, then as Deputy Prime Minister became the fourth democratically elected president of the Republic of Kenya. Trouncing his boss, Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga who refused to concede defeat in the hotly contested presidential election.

Uhuru of the Jubilee Alliance won the 2013 Presidential Elections with  6, 173, 433, Raila got 5, 340, 546, Musalia Mudavadi 483, 981. Total votes cast as announced by IEBC were 12, 338, 667 and 108, 975 votes were rejected.

Uhuru ran as KANU’s candidate in the December 2002 presidential election but lost to opposition candidate Mwai Kibaki by a large margin.