Kenya: Museveni Telephones Ruto as Livid Kenyatta Sustains Months-Lengthy Blockade

Nairobi — Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni telephoned President-Elect William Ruto for the second time since his declaration because the winner of the August 9 presidential election to relay a congratulatory message following the Supreme Court docket verdict upholding Ruto’s election.

Museveni’s name on Monday simply hours after a unanimous verdict by the seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court docket got here at the same time as State Home remained silent on Ruto’s victory with President Uhuru Kenyatta avoiding to make a direct point out of the President-Elect in a recorded speech.

Whereas commenting on the Supreme Court docket’s verdict, President Kenyatta, the patron of the Azimio Coalition Social gathering which fielded Raila Odinga, 77, as its presidential candidate, solely stated he’ll uphold the rule of regulation and guarantee compliance to the decision.

“After I was sworn in as your President I made a pledge to the nation: a pledge to uphold the rule of regulation and the choices made by the Judiciary on all matter pertaining to our governance,” President Kenyatta remarked.

“In the present day the Supreme Court docket made a ruling on the presidential dispute upholding the outcomes introduced by the Unbiased Electoral and Boundaries Fee (IEBC) on August 15. And in holding to the pledge that I made to uphold the rule of regulation once I took the oath of workplace, I decide to executing the orders of this court docket to the latter,” he stated.

The 7-minute speech shared by State Home hours after Ruto’s handle to the nation got here at the same time as experiences emerged that Ruto’s name to President Kenyatta went answered.

Ruto had indicated he can be making a telephone name to the President with whom he had not talked to for months to debate transition issues.

“I’ll shortly be placing a name to my pal President Uhuru Kenyatta. I have never talked to him in months however shortly I can be doing a name to him in order that we will have a dialog on the transition,” Ruto acknowledged sarcastically in an obvious jibe.

I rang H.E @WilliamsRuto to congratulate him on the Supreme Court docket’s unanimous resolution to uphold his election because the fifth President of Kenya. I sit up for working with him to strengthen our Strategic Partnership in advancing the EAC agenda. God bless the folks of Kenya. pic.twitter.com/8HrG5eRiWl– Yoweri Ok Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) September 5, 2022

Ruto went on to state that he respects President Kenyatta’s resolution to again a candidate of his selection however added Kenyans had made a democratic selection which should be revered.

“I do know he has labored onerous however the folks of Kenya have decided and now we have completely no problem with the democratic rights of Kenyans,” the President-Elect stated.

“I take no offence that he determined to assist anyone else, we are going to stay pals as now we have been within the context of the place we’re,” he added.