Article author:
Reuters
George Oburza and Ienat Merci
Nairobi/Kisumu — Kenyan politician Laila Odinga has “dramatically” described the results of the August 9 presidential election, which were declared defeated. ” was rejected. He warned Vice President William Ruto on Tuesday of the long legal crisis facing democracy in Kenya.
His first comment on the results was that four of his seven Electoral Commissioners denied the figures released by Electoral Commission Chairman Wahra Chevkati. It was after he said he supported his decision a day earlier.
This dramatic turn of events is similar to polls that put him in the richest country in East Africa with more than 1,200 deaths in 2007 and more than 100 deaths in 2017. caused fear of violence in
Throughout the night, Odinga supporters fought police and burned tires in the western city of Kisumu and the vast Kibera slums of the capital, Nairobi, but by Tuesday morning peace was on the streets.
"In our view, the figures released by Chebkaty are invalid and must be annulled by a court," said the veteran opposition leader and presidential candidate this time. Odinga, who was elected five times to the Outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"What we saw yesterday was a farce," he told reporters, but urged his supporters to keep the peace. “Let no one take the law into his own hands,” he said.
Odinga broadcast a press conference of opposition committee members at his own venue before taking the stage. He said he was not yet ready to announce concrete legal action.
On behalf of the four commissioners, Electoral Commission Deputy Chairman Juliana Cherera said the results showing Root won by 50.49% of his tally were miscounted and Chebkaty He said he ignored concerns about tallies raised by other commissioners.
Cherera later stated that one of her main claims was based on mathematical errors. She initially stressed that her four candidates' share of the vote combined in the campaign would give her 100.01%, and her additional 0.01%, equivalent to her 142,000 votes, would sway the election. said it was possible.
Root defeated Odinga by approximately 233,000 votes.
In response to a Reuters question, Celera later admitted that 0.01% of the 14.2 million votes cast were actually 1,420 votes, but the tally remained a lack of data quality control.
A spokesman for the Electoral Commission could not be reached for comment by Reuters.
STREETS QUIET
With memories of post-election bloodshed still fresh, Odinga was called upon at home and abroad to undertake to resolve his concerns in court.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres hopes to meet Root on Tuesday and Odinga on Wednesday, said UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, saying Guterres said the election process would continue to be legal. He added that he hopes it will be completed in accordance with the
US State Department spokesman Ned Price urged parties to work together to "peacefully resolve any remaining election concerns" through existing dispute resolution mechanisms, encouraging supporters to seek peace. called on party leaders to urge them to maintain
"I hope that calmness and patience will prevail," Price told reporters, adding that Washington will remain in close contact with its partners in Kenya.
In a crowded restaurant in Odinga's home base of Kisumu, sporadic applause erupted as supporters watched as he rejected the outcome and called for peace. It was quiet outside the street.
"We have evidence that Root rigged this, so there is no need to protest," said businessman and Odinga advocate Justin Omondi.
Still, overnight protests showed how quickly tensions can escalate. Many shops in Kisumu were closed on Tuesday, with roads dotted with stones and burnt tire tracks.
When Nancy Achieng arrived Tuesday morning, she found a roadside stall in the Kondele district destroyed.
"I lost the election and I lost my business," said Achieng, where she sold beans, chapattis and roasted corn for two years. rice field.
Kenyan eurobonds fell after statements by Odinga and the commissioner, but recovered some of the sharp losses seen on Monday and were still rising on the day. Denominated bonds rose 1.86 cents to 88.5 cents on the dollar at 1400 GMT and were above 92 cents late last week.
Root will not only face economic and social crises, but will also face increasing debt. Already reeling from the impact of COVID-19, poor Kenyans are hit by skyrocketing food and fuel costs, while a devastating drought in the north has left him 4.1 million dependent on food aid.
Root, 55, has put Kenyan class divisions at the center of his campaign to become Kenya's fifth president in a promise to reward low-income "hustlers," but on Monday For every Kenyan who swore to be president in his victory speech.
Outgoing President Kenyatta, after serving two five-year terms in office, was barred from running and clashed with Vice President Ruto in favor of Odinga.
(Reporting by Duncan Miriri, George Obruza, David Lewis, Nairobi; Ienat Mercy, Kevin Omoro, Kisumu; Rachel Savage, London; Michelle Nichols, New York; Daphne Saledakis, Washington) Additional reporting by James; Editing by Macharia Chege and Aaron Ross, Katherine Evans, Tomasz Janowski, Cynthia Osterman)