Raila Odinga Files Petition In Kenya’s Supreme Court Against Presidential Election 2022 Results

Africa | Kenya August 22, 2022

Leader of Kenya’s Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance, Raila Odinga, on August 22, 2022, filed a petition in the country’s Supreme Court, against the results of the recently held presidential election. That was reported by some East African media.

The presidential election was part of Kenya general elections that were held on August 9, 2022. The results of the election were announced on August 15, 2022, by the country’s electoral body Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The announced results gave Vice President William Ruto of United Democratic Alliance victory in the election, winning it with 50.49% of the vote while his rival Raila Odinga took 48.85%.

However, Raila Odinga refused to concede defeat. In a speech he delivered to the country on August 16, 2022, the former PM said, among oithers, that the presidential election results were null and void and will challenge them in court.

According to Kenya’s Constitution, the Supreme Court will have to reach a ruling on Raila Odinga’s petition within 14 days from the date of filing. If the court rules in favor of Raila Odinga, then the presidential election results will be nullified, and a new presidential election will follow within 60 days.

Petition against the results of a presidential election in Kenya can be filed in the Supreme Court by any Kenyan and there is no limit to how many times that can occur. As such, it can occur again and again, until there is no further challenge to the results. As the Supreme Court considers a petition against presidential election results, the incumbent president will continue to be on the throne albeit with reduced powers until a next president is found through the above Constitutional process.

_________________________ © 2015 - 2022 Africauptodate. All Rights Reserved