In a statement to newsrooms,Raila said the Azimio Coalition stands for the rule of law and respects the Supreme Court ruling although they “vehemently disagree” with it.
“We have always stood for the rule of law and the constitution. In this regard, we respect the opinion of the court although we vehemently disagree with their decision today,” said Raila.
“Our lawyers proffered irrefutable evidence and the facts were on our side, unfortunately the judges saw it otherwise,” he added.
On Monday a seven Judge bench led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, unanimously upheld the election of President-elect William Ruto in the August 9 polls.
"We declare the election of the first respondent as President-elect to be valid..." Chief Justice Martha Koome ruled at 1:34PM.
At the same time, Raila took issue with the abridged judgment saying it was “incredible” that the Supreme Court would dismiss all the nine issues they had raised with the presidential results in their petition.
“We find it incredible that the judges found against us on all nine (9) grounds and occasion resulted in unduly exaggerated language to refute our claims,” he said.
“This judgement is by no means the end of our movement, in fact it inspires us to redouble our efforts to transform this country into a prosperous democracy where each and every Kenyan can find their full belonging.”
Mr.Odinga thanked his supporters noting "We will be communicating in the near future on our plans to continue our struggle for transparency, accountability and democracy.”
Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua had moved to court seeking to nullify William Ruto’s election.
Electoral body Chairman Wafula Chebukati declared Dr. Ruto as the winner of the presidential election after garnering 7,176,141 votes, representing 50.49 per cent of the per cent of the total votes cast.
Odinga came in second with 6,942,930 votes, which translates to 48.85 per cent of the votes cast.
Earlier in the day, Karua had reacted to the Apex Court ruling saying she respects the decision although she does not agree with its findings.
“The court has spoken. I respect but disagree with the findings,” she said in a tweet minutes after the ruling.
This is after the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition by his competitor Raila Odinga, ruling that Dr.Ruto was duly elected in the August 9 General Election.
According to article 141 of the Constitution the date on which the court renders a decision declaring the election to be valid, is the first Tuesday following seven days after the court gives its verdict.
The swearing in of president-elect William Ruto will take place on Tuesday, September 13 with the Assumption of the Office of President Committee expected to announce the swearing in venue.
The President-elect then assumes office by taking and subscribing the oath of allegiance, and the oath for the execution of the functions of office.
During the ceremony, the President-elect shall be sworn in publicly before the Chief Justice or the Deputy Chief Justice if the CJ is absent.
Upon taking the oath, the President shall sign a certificate of inauguration and the outgoing President shall hand over to the President the instruments of power and authority: a sword and the Constitution.
Parliament shall by legislation provide for the procedure and ceremony for the swearing-in of a President-elect. Parliament was mandated to enact legislation to provide for the procedure and ceremony for the swearing-in of a President-elect.
"As a consequence, we declare the election of the first respondent as President-elect to be valid under Article 143 of the Constitution. This being a matter cutting across the public interest, we order that each party bear their own cost. It is so ordered."
The electoral body chairman Wafula Chebukati, on August 15, 2022, declared William Ruto the winner after garnering 7,176,141 votes, representing 50.49 per cent of the total votes cast.
His main challenger Raila Odinga of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition party got 6,942,930 votes representing 48 per cent of the votes cast.
While delivering the abridged version of the judgement, Chief Justice Martha Koome who promised to avail the full judgment in 21 days said the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was electoral malpractice to warrant nullification of Ruto's elections victory.
"It is our finding that the declared President-Elect attained 50% +1 of all the votes cast in accordance with article 138.4 of the constitution," she ruled.
In the notice released on September 1, 2022, the commission also gazetted all the 1,450 MCAs- elect who are awaiting to be sworn in.
The gazette notice by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati also includes the number of votes attained by each, in the August 9 polls.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 88 (4), 93,98 (1) (a) and 101 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya, section 4 of the IEBC Act, 2011, section 38,39 (1) and (1B) of the Elections Act, 2011, Regulations 87 (2) of the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012, IEBC declares that the persons whose names are listed in the Schedule hereunder were elected as Members of the Senate having received the majority of the votes cast in the elections held on August 9, 2022, and complied with the provisions of the Elections Act, 2011 and the constitution,” reads the notice.he third assemblies of all counties are expected to hold their first sitting on September 9.
The sitting, according to standing orders, should take place not more than 30 days after the general election.The governor is expected by the by-laws to convene the sitting.
Kamket, who was recently elected on a KANU Party ticket, was welcomed to Kenya Kwanza at by Ruto at his official residence in Karen.
"Working together is imperative for the full realization of the economic objectives we promised the people of Kenya. I am pleased to welcome Tiaty MP William Kamket to Kenya Kwanza," said Ruto in a tweet.
The vocal leader is a close ally of KANU Party Chairman Gideon Moi who lost in the Baringo Senatorial elections during tge August 9th polls.
In Kacheliba Titus Lotee of Kenya Union Party (KUP) trounced incumbent Mark Lomunokol (UDA) to clinch the MP seat.
Mr Lotee was declared winner by Kacheliba returning officer Wilson Kipchumba after garnering 20,073 votes against the outgoing MP Mr Lomunokol who got 17,903 votes.
Mr John Lodinyo of KANU came third with 1,346 votes
In Pokot South, the Provisional results has put the incumbent David Pkosing of Kenya Union Party (KUP) ahead with 28,250.
Mr Pkosing challenger Simon Kalekem of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) came in second with 15,298 votes.
Wiper Party’s David Mwalika Mboni has won the Kitui Rural parliamentary seat.
Mr. Mboni successfully defended his seat after garnering 19, 745 votes against UDA party’s Charles Mutisya Nyamai who got 10, 178 votes.
While announcing the results at South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU), the constituency’s returning officer Winfred Ndoti said the voter turnout was 54.57% with a total of 30, 089 votes cast.
Mr Nyamai is the former area MP.
Mr Mwalika ran on a CCU ticket in 2017 before decamping to Wiper ahead of the 2022 elections.
The Monday race was seen as a popularity contest between the Moi family and President-elect William Ruto.
Mr Chebor, a former Ward Rep for Salgaa garnered 27,021 votes against Moi's 14,725. Luka Kigen of Chama Cha Mashinani came a distant third with 593 votes.
"I thank the people of Rongai for believing in me. I promise to deliver and I will not let them down. I promise to work with all the residents irrespective of whether they voted for me or not," said Mr Chebor while receiveing his certificate from the Rongai Returning Officer Hilda Lokwawi.
Speaking after casting his vote at Mercy Njeri Primary School Raymond Moi complained of alleged voter bribery and intimidation of voters citing that the huge deployment of elected leaders from UDA was scaring off voters.
Raymond’s defeat means the end of the powerful Moi dynasty in Rift Valley after his younger brother Gideon Moi lost to William Cheptumo in Baringo Senatorial race.
Mr. Chebor's means UDA now has nine elected MPs in the National Assembly from Nakuru out of the 11 elected leaders.
This follows an earlier press statement from the coalition secretariat inviting its members to stage a seven-day vigil at the Supreme court and IEBC offices until the apex court hears and determines the presidential petition.
“Upon further consideration, acting on the advice of our counsel and party leadership, the Azimio la Umoja coalition members have been advised to stay calm, follow the proceedings of the apex court and not necessarily through the staging of vigils,” Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign secretariat Dennis Onsarigo said in a statement Saturday.
The coalition’s leaders Raila Odinga and Martha Karua filed a petition at the Supreme Court, challenging the declaration of William Ruto as President-elect.
The Supreme Court’s deadline to deliver a verdict is September 5, 2022.
Police in Ugenya sub-county are probing an incident in which rowdy locals on Saturday stormed the constituency development fund(CDF) offices and vandalised property of unknown value.
The incident came just a few hours after the police repulsed another group of youths who attempted to access the home of area MP-elect David Ochieng in East Ugenya.
Confirming the incident, Ugenya sub-county police commander Bernard Wamugunda said they had launched investigations and would issue a comprehensive statement in due course.
“We are in the process of investigating the two incidents, allow us to complete the investigations then we shall give concrete information,” Mr Wamugunda told a local media house
According to reports the incidents is said to have been prompted by Mr Ochieng’s decision to join the Kenya Kwanza coalition after signing a post-election pact with President-elect William Ruto.
Mr. Ochieng is the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) leader.
“Ugenya is an Azimio la Umoja zone and nobody will change that. Not even the Member of Parliament. We elected him under the umbrella of Azimio la Umoja,” said the protesters as they marched through Sega town protesting the MP's decision to join the William Ruto led-alliance.
While announcing his exit from Azimio coalition, Ochieng cited frustrations and lack of chance that would enable him to grow as an up-and-coming leader.
Mr Ochieng, who was elected for a third term, braved the ODM wave to defeat Dr Daniel Odhiambo by 2,692 votes. He was first elected to parliament through ODM party ticket but won a second term in a by-election on the ticket of his current party.
Ruto made the announcement as he and his Kenya Kwanza team met with party members of MDG led by the party leader and Ugenya MP David Ochieng at his Karen residence in Nairobi.
“Kenya Kwanza is delighted to welcome the Movement for Democracy and Growth to the alliance. We are committed to partnerships that help us build one Nation for the prosperity of all Kenyans,” Ruto tweeted.
The DP lauded the officials of the party which has it's major backing in Nyanza region perceived to be Odinga’s stronghold,saying it will serve as a uniting factor to shun divisive politics of ethnicity in the country.
“I wish to welcome MDG joining Kenya Kwanza, we have already signed an agreement. I am delighted to welcome MDG to the Kenya Kwanza fraternity. It is historic because this is a party formally from the former Nyanza region, and we are looking forward to forging the necessary partnership,” Ruto said in an address to the press.
“Going into the future, we can mainstream the people of Nyanza in working with the rest of Kenya to build politics devoid of ethnicity, and unnecessary conflict and ensuring we build the current momentum where Kenyans have made a decision to get rid of ethnicity hate amongst people of Kenya.”
MP Ochieng, on his part, said the party had taken the decision since Kenya Kwanza's manifesto aligns with their plans for Kenyans.
“We are very happy to be here, and MDG is the part of the jigsaw puzzle that is missing in your matrix to govern the country, and it is going to be smooth now going forward,” he stated.
“We believe that most of the things in our manifesto that we would want done to make living in this country bearable for our people lie in the heart of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.”
MDG becomes the third party to leave Azimio, after Muungano party affiliated to outgoing Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana and United Democratic Movement (UDM) led by Mandera Senator elect Ali Roba made a similar move last week.
A total of 45 governors on Thursday took the oath of office after being elected in the August 9 General Election.
In Nairobi, Governor Johnson Sakaja was sworn in at the KICC together with his deputy James Muchiri Njoroge
Mr Sakaja received the instruments of power from outgoing governor Anne Kananu
In Siaya, lawyer James Orengo was sworn in as the second governor.
In Nyeri, Governor Mutahi Kahiga was sworn in for a second term in a ceremony graced by Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua.
Justice James Wakiaga administered the oath of office to Governor Mutahi Kahiga and his Deputy Mwangi Kinaniri in a ceremony held in Nyeri town.
In Kericho, Governor Dr. Eric Mutai was sworn in as the second governor taking over from Prof Paul Chepkwony who has been at the helm of the South Rift-based county for close to a decade.
Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his deputy Martha Karua filed was among the parties that filed a petition at the apex court, challenging the declaration of President-elect William Ruto as the winner in the August 9 polls.
Raila and Karua, in a case against IEBC, its chairperson Wafula Chebukati, commissioners and William Ruto have asked the court to declare the Presidential Election results announced on August 15 null and void.
In a separate petition, Busia Senator-elect Okiya Omtatah also challenged the results of the Presidential election announced by IEBC, stating that no candidate achieved the 50% plus one threshold stipulated in the constitution.
Omtatah said that the math does not add up and that the final results were not based on the absolute total number of votes cast and did not factor in some 140, 028 votes which he says would alter the outcome of the final results and particularly the constitutional 50%+1 threshold.
The Busia Senator’s math in the petition placed all candidates below the 50 percent mark with William Ruto getting 49.9 percent and Raila Odinga 48.3 percent.
The Supreme Court also received a petition from renowned public interest litigant Khelef Khalifa, seeking the nullification of the presidential election results.
In his petition , Khalifa a prominent litigant in the 2017 election petition that saw the Supreme Court nullify the presidential election results wants the Court to nullify Ruto's win claiming this year's polls was marred by massive irregularities.
After failing to be cleared to run for president despite an High Court ruling that was later challenged by the electoral body and eventually overturned at the Court of Appeal, gospel artist Reuben Kigame has also filed a petition asking the supreme court to declare the nomination and clearance of the four presidential candidates as null and void.
In another petition, John Njoroge Kamau, a voter sought the courts clarification on whether the IEBC chairman erred in excluding a majority of the commissioners in the final tallying.
He also wanted the seven-judge bench to declare that the IEBC chair had committed election related irregularities and bar him from overseeing another election as national returning officer.
Also presenting their petition at the registry was a lobby group dubbed Youth Advocacy Africa who also called for the nullification of the presidential election saying they had evidence that there was manipulation of the poll outcome to ensure a candidate achieved the 50%+1 threshold.
Other petitions filed at the apex comprised of anti-graft crusader John Githongo, popular preacher David Kariuki Ngari, Juliah Nyokabi Chege, Joseph Mutua Ndonga and Simon Mwaura Njenga
The governorship elections of Mombasa and Kakamega counties were among the areas that IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati announced would be postponed.
The others include Member of the National Assembly polls in Kitui Rural Constituency ,Kacheliba Constituency,Pokot South Constituency ,and Rongai Constituency.
Elections for Member of County Assembly Wards had also been postponed in Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South Constituency - Nairobi County) and Nyaki West (North Imenti Constituency - Meru County).
Speaking to the press shortly after meeting candidates from the affected areas IEBC Chairman Chebukati, asserted that the aforementioned elections must be conducted as soon as possible to allow the commission to publish party lists, which he claimed could not be completed without finalizing the elections.
"These elections must take place as soon as possible because we need to move on and have finality," said Chebukati.
He also stated that the process will run seamless as all the issues that had caused the elections to be postponed have been resolved.
Chebukati also opened the campaign widow for the candidates running for the positions with the electoral boss directing that the campaigns should run until 48 hours to the election.
The aforesaid areas failed to vote for the respective elective positions during the August 9 polls after IEBC cited discrepancies found on the ballot papers which included incorrect photos and names of candidates contesting for the seats
