Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta who was declared winner of the recent presidential elections in the country, says his win was based on his development record during his first term
In a sworn affidavit filed at the Supreme Court on Thursday night, Kenyatta said his victory was endorsed by Kenyan voters and termed as “disparaging” remarks by opposition leader Raila Odinga that Kenyatta and his running mate Deputy President William Ruto are computer generated leaders.
Odinga has failed a petition seeking the nullification of the results over what he terms as massive irregularities.
In the replying affidavit, Kenyatta said the victory by his Jubilee Party follows “great efforts to transform the country”.
He adds that the party managed to make significant inroads into the opposition’s strongholds.
Kenyatta won a second term with 54% of the votes against Odinga’s 45%.
The opposition in its petition argues that technology enabled massive electoral fraud.
The petition further states that results from more than a third of the polling stations were fatally flawed.
Odinga says: “We have now decided to go to the Supreme Court and lay bare before the world the making of a computer generated leadership.”
The electoral commission has however responded to the petition arguing that the entire process was impartial, neutral, accurate, transparent and verifiable.
Court proceedings will begin on Saturday.
Elections Observation Group National Co-ordinator, Mule Musau says: “If the petition is successful a new election will have to be held within 60 days.”
Odinga lost in 2013 and filed a petition at the Supreme Court.
A dispute in 2007 election results led to two months of clashes that left at least 1100 people dead and thousands displaced.
The seven judge bench must deliver a ruling by the 1 September.
Friday 25 August 2017 18:53
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Sarah Kimani
