Raila Amolo Odinga has rejected the declaration of his rival DP William Ruto as president-elect by the electoral commission chair, saying his coalition is pursuing all available constitutional options to invalidate the pronunciations.
Speaking for the first time since the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chair Wafula Chebukati declared the results Monday, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party presidential candidate claimed Mr Chebukati shown disregard to the Constitution by announcing results processed unilaterally.
Mr Odinga said the figures announced by Mr Chebukati are null and void and must be quashed by a court of law.
“In our view, there is neither a legally and validly declared winner nor a president-elect. Mr Chebukati’s announcement purporting to announce a winner is a nullity.
“He acted with gross impunity and in total disregard of the Constitution and our laws. He could have plunged our country into chaos had our supporters not exercised great restraint,” Mr Odinga, who as flanked by his running mate Martha Karua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, said.
He also claimed the chair was the only person who accessed the presidential tally and informed the commissioners without permitting any discussion of the results.
“The chair acted in disregard to the Constitution… Azimio rejects the presidential results announced by Mr Chebukati,” he said.
Mr Odinga also urged his supporters to maintain peace and calm as the coalition pursues constitutional avenues to invalidate the pronunciations by Mr Chebukati.
“I urge them to continue to do so. Let no one take the law into their own hands. We are pursuing constitutional and lawful channels and processes to invalidate Mr Chebukati’s illegal and unconstitutional pronouncement.”
Noting that he was certain justice will prevail, Mr Odinga also lauded what he termed as the “heroism of the four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissioners – the majority of the IEBC – who stood up to the bullying and illegal conduct of Mr Chebukati.”
“We are proud of them and ask them not to fear anything. Kenyans are with them,” Mr Odinga said.
The four include vice chairperson Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya who have disputed the results.
Mr Odinga said the law does not vest in the Chairperson the powers of a “dictator to rule the IEBC unilaterally.”
“The IEBC is structured as a democratic institution in which decisions must be taken either by consensus or by a vote of the majority. The Chairperson and a tiny minority of commissioners have no legal authority to take weighty decisions and proclaim them as the rulings of the IEBC.”
