![\"\"](\"http:\/\/wardoon.net\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Munich_Eye_02_13_30_55.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0claimed Mr Chebukati shown disregard to the Constitution by announcing results processed unilaterally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Mr Odinga said the figures announced by Mr Chebukati are null and void and must be quashed by a court of law.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our view, there is neither a legally and validly declared winner nor a president-elect. Mr Chebukati\u2019s announcement purporting to announce a winner is a nullity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cHe acted with gross impunity and in total disregard of the Constitution and our laws.\u00a0 He could have plunged our country into chaos had our supporters not exercised great restraint,\u201d Mr Odinga, who as flanked by his running mate Martha Karua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThe chair acted in disregard to the Constitution\u2026 Azimio rejects the presidential results announced by Mr Chebukati,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Mr Odinga also urged his supporters to maintain peace and calm as the coalition pursues constitutional avenues to invalidate the pronunciations by Mr Chebukati.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI urge them to continue to do so.\u00a0 Let no one take the law into their own hands.\u00a0 We are pursuing constitutional and lawful channels and processes to invalidate Mr Chebukati\u2019s illegal and unconstitutional pronouncement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noting that he was certain justice will prevail, Mr Odinga also lauded what he termed as the \u201cheroism of the four Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissioners – the majority of the IEBC \u2013 who stood up to the bullying and illegal conduct of Mr Chebukati.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cWe are proud of them and ask them not to fear anything.\u00a0 Kenyans are with them,\u201d Mr Odinga said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The four include vice chairperson Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya who have disputed the results.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Mr Odinga said the law does not vest in the Chairperson the powers of a \u201cdictator to rule the IEBC unilaterally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe IEBC is structured as a democratic institution in which decisions must be taken either by consensus or by a vote of the majority.\u00a0 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.\u201d<\/p>\n