Presidential contender in the 2022 general election, Raila Odinga, has sent a message to Kenyans ahead of the Supreme Court ruling on the presidential petition. The Supreme Court is expected to make its ruling on Monday, September 5 on the disputed election.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of Meru leaders on Sunday, September 4, Raila appealed to Kenyans to keep him and the Azimio coalition in prayers ahead of the ruling.
Raila also urged his supporters to pray for peace to prevail even after the judgment is made and reiterated that the petition was a quest for justice, which he hoped would prevail on Monday, September 5, for the sake of Kenyans.
Raila Odinga and his deputy Martha Karua during a meeting with Meru leaders in Nairobi on Sunday, September 4, 2022.
“Kenyans should continue to have us in their prayers, we pray for peace and wisdom. We hope that the supreme court will deliver a fair ruling which will help us to strengthen the democracy in the country,” the flagbearer reiterated.
The former Prime Minister affirmed his belief in the judicial system. However, when questioned on whether he would accept the outcome of the court, he declined to give a definite answer.
“I will not want to speculate or anticipate the outcome of the court. I believe that our judges are people who are learned, qualified, and are fair and therefore will deliver a just ruling,” Odinga remarked.
Ruto’s message ahead of the petition ruling
Speaking in Nakuru earlier, president-elect William Ruto called for prayer from Kenyans to outgoing president Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of his handing over. Like Raila, Ruto welcomed the presidential petition, terming it as a manifestation that Kenya is a country guided by the constitution.
Ruto insisted that nobody was above the law, and promised to accept the decision of the seven-judge-bench led by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
“We will respect the decision of the Supreme Court the same way that we respected the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) when it announced the results of the election. No one is above the law, we are all equals,” Ruto reiterated.
The apex court is set to deliver on the ruling on September 5, which is the last of the 14-day constitutional timeline given to the court to determine the petition.
Eight petitioners filed cases contesting the declaration by IEBC on April 15 that rendered Ruto the president-elect. The petitions were consolidated into one during the pre-trial conference.
The court may either validate the results of the August 9 General Election or annul it, and consequently call for a run-off between Raila and Ruto.
In 2017, the Supreme Court nullified the presidential election and ordered a repeat poll within 60 days as required by the constitution after a nullification.
