Uhuru vindicated, gruesome friction over - Jubilee leaders, Ekuru Aukot

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata outside the Supreme Court, November 20, 2017. /CAROLE MAINA
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata outside the Supreme Court, November 20, 2017. /CAROLE MAINA

Jubilee leaders have welcomed Monday's Supreme Court ruling upholding President Uhuru Kenyatta's win in the repeat election.

The six-judge bench dismissed the petition filed against Uhuru who will now be sworn in on November 28.

Majority leaders Kipchumba Murkomen (Senate) and Aden Duale (National Assembly) said Uhuru will now focus on nation building and implementing his pledges to Kenyans.

"This chapter is over, President Uhuru is at the helm until 2022 and those who have the energy can meet us in the next election.

We will implement the Constitution as well as Jubilee manifesto which was communicated to Kenyans before the elections," Murkomen said outside the Supreme Court.

Duale said the ruling has vindicated the Jubilee administration.

"It's now the journey of bringing unity, equity for the people as the President focuses on uniting the country to

those who voted for him and those that did not," he added.

The Garissa Town MP also lauded Judiciary for maintaining its independence despite pressure from the political class.

"Judiciary is independent and we believe in the rule of law and constitutionalism; they have proven that we followed the due process and they have unanimously communicated this."

Uhuru's lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi said the ruling marked an end to the gruesome friction experienced since the August 8 win was nullified.

"This ruling is welcome as it has brought an end to challenges that were tied to the petitions; it's time for the President to build his government and for the Opposition to focus on their watchdog position. We now wait for the final copy of the ruling in the next 21 days," he said.

Thirdway Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot, who was third in the repeat Presidential poll with over 21,000 votes, said the Supreme Court has demonstrated its independence and the political class cannot intimidate the outcome of the rulings.

"We have been on the right side of history and we will stand with Kenyans to move forward because the dispute is now over. The journey to uniting Kenya starts," he said.

The Supreme Court dismissed two key petitions and

upheld Uhuru's victory in the re-run on October 26.

One of the cases was filed by former Kilome MP Harun Mwau and the other by activists Njonjo Mue (International Commission of Jurists) and Khelef Khalifa (Muslims for Human Rights).

"The court has unanimously determined that the petitions are not merited," Chief Justice David Maraga ruled on Monday, after considerations by the six-judge bench. "The presidential election is upheld."

The full judgment will be delivered in 21 days.

NASA leader Raila Odinga has dismissed the announcement as one delivered under compulsion and said Uhuru's government remains illegitimate in his view.

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