Tag Archives: Raila Odinga

News, Politics, Government

Statement by the Press Secretary on the Presidential Election in Kenya

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By The White House

On behalf of the President and the people of the United States, we congratulate Uhuru Kenyatta on his election as president of Kenya. We also congratulate the people of Kenya on the peaceful conduct of the election and commend Raila Odinga for accepting the Supreme Court‘s decision. We urge all Kenyans to peacefully accept the results of the election. The electoral process and the peaceful adjudication of disputes in the Kenyan legal system are testaments to the progress Kenya has made in strengthening its democratic institutions, and the desire of the Kenyan people to move their country forward.

Now is the time for Kenyans to come together to fully implement the political, institutional, and accountability reforms envisioned in the Kenyan constitution. Kenya is an important member of the international community. We welcome and wish to underscore the importance of Kenya‘s commitment to uphold its international obligations, including those with respect to international justice.

For 50 years, the United States and Kenya have been strong partners. Our relationship is based on a shared commitment to democracy, security, and opportunity. The United States remains committed to our long-standing partnership with the Kenyan people.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at The White House Press Office

News, Politics, Government

Kenya Supreme Court upholds election result

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Kenya’s Supreme Court says the results of the country’s March 4 presidential election are valid and that Uhuru Kenyatta has won.

Saturday’s verdict — following a drawn-out court case that riveted the nation — means that Kenyatta will be sworn in as president early next month.

Kenyatta will become the second sitting president in Africa to face charges at the International Criminal Court. He and Deputy President-elect William Ruto both face charges related to having helped orchestrate the 2007-08 postelection violence. Both deny the charges. Ruto’s trial is set to begin in late May; Kenyatta’s is to start in July. Kenyatta has promised to report to The Hague.

Lawyers for challenger Raila Odinga argued before the Supreme Court that the election was marred by irregularities.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Kenya Supreme Court to top politicians: Keep quiet

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The Kenya Supreme Court is warning the country’s top politicians against making sensational statements about the country’s disputed March 4 presidential vote.

The six-member bench on Wednesday directed lawyers representing President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his main rival Raila Odinga, as well as civic groups, that they risk punishment for public statements that are deemed to undermine the court’s authority.

The court is studying petitions submitted by Odinga and by civil groups challenging the election‘s outcome. Odinga says the process was so flawed that the court should order a new vote.

Kenyatta was named the winner with 50.07 percent.

The court said the media must keep the public informed but that journalists must function “in a fair, impartial and responsible manner.”

The court must rule by a week from Saturday.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Election dispute big test for Kenya's top judge

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Confidence was so low in Kenya‘s courts during the country’s deadly 2007-08 post-election violence people preferred to fight in the streets.

There has been no violence following this year’s election, in part because of the faith the country has in its highest ranking judge.

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga will soon hear the biggest case of his short judicial career. Last weekend the country’s election commission named Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta the winner of the March 4 presidential election with 50.07 percent of the vote. Prime Minister Raila Odinga is challenging that result, saying there has been massive rigging.

One quote from Mutunga may come to have bearing on the case. He is quoted in the 2006 book “Raila Odinga” as saying Kenya “needs Raila” as president.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Kenya church moves past painful election history

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The Rev. Joshua Kimuyu pointed where his church floor is broken and black, a scar from an attack five years old. More than 200 young men armed with crude weapons stormed the Africa Inland Church in Nairobi’s sprawling Kibera slum and set a generator on fire.

The explosion tore through the roof, creating one of the most visible scenes of postelection violence after Kenya‘s disputed election of 2007.

The dark spot is a constant reminder of the church’s vulnerability during national elections. But for Kimuyu there was no question of keeping its doors shut this Sunday, the day after Kenya‘s election commission announced the winner of the East African country’s fiercely contested presidential election. This time, Kimuyu said, there was nothing to fear after the two leading candidates — winner Uhuru Kenyatta and loser Raila Odinga — pleaded for calm and unity.

“When presidential candidates spoke to the media, they kind of fueled the steam in the people,” he said, looking back on the disputed election of 2007, when more than 1,000 people died in tribe-on-tribe violence. But this time, although the election was hotly contested and close, the candidates urged Kenyans to respect authority, and that appears to have made a difference, said Kimuyu.

Sunday was a day of peace in Kenya. No violence was reported. Late Saturday, only the most minor of disturbances were reported in the hours of after Kenyatta was named the winner.

Odinga, who called the election “tainted,” vowed to press a case of election irregularities with the Supreme Court. But he asked that Kenyans love one another and remain at peace.

The election commission said Kenyatta, the son of Kenya‘s founding father, won last Monday’s vote with 50.07 percent of ballots. Kenyatta stands accused by the International Criminal Court of helping direct some of the 2007-08 postelection violence in which tribes attacked each other with machetes and bows and arrows and the police shot protesters.

Five years ago, President Mwai Kibaki was hurriedly sworn in for a second term, even as Odinga said the election had been stolen. His supporters took to the streets.

At the time, the Africa Inland Church was targeted because it was believed to be patronized by the Kamba tribesmen of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, whose willingness to serve in Kibaki’s government was seen as a betrayal by the opposition.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Kenya: Candidate calls for halt to tallying effort

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The coalition of Kenya‘s prime minister says the vote tallying process now under way to determine the winner of the country’s presidential election “lacks integrity” and should be stopped.

The statement by the coalition of Raila Odinga — one of two top presidential candidates — said the counting process should be restarted using primary documents from polling stations.

Officials on Thursday continued to tally the votes from Monday’s presidential vote. An electronic tally that was to serve as a preliminary vote count and be available soon after the polls closed had failed, leaving the country in a tense information vacuum on the election results.

Odinga faces Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. One of them must capture 50 percent of the vote in order to win; otherwise there is a runoff.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

History

War crimes suspect leads early Kenya vote tally

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By hnn

NAIROBI, Kenya — Uhuru Kenyatta, a Kenyan politician who has been charged by the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity, was leading by a wide margin in the Kenya election on Tuesday, with nearly half the votes counted.

Mr. Kenyatta, who comes from one of the richest, most powerful families in Africa and has been accused of bankrolling death squads that killed women and children during the chaos of Kenya’s election five years ago, was leading 54 percent to 42 percent over the second-place candidate, Raila Odinga, Kenya’s prime minister.

But there was a wrinkle.

Source:
NYT

Source URL:
www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/world/africa/kenya-presidential-election.html?hp

Date:
3-6-13

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at History News Network – George Mason University

News, Politics, Government

Violent start to Kenya vote: Police die in attack

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A pre-dawn attack on police in Kenya early Monday killed several officers hours before Kenyans began casting votes in a nationwide election being held five years after more than 1,000 people died in election-related violence.

Police in the coastal city of Mombasa reported a 2 a.m. attack by a gang of dozens; early reports indicated several officers — perhaps four or five — and several attackers were killed. Police didn’t immediately confirm a death toll.

The country’s leaders have been working for months to reduce election-related tensions, but multiple factors make more vote violence likely. The police said late Sunday that criminals were planning to dress in police uniforms and disrupt voting in some locations.

In addition, intelligence on the Somali-Kenya border indicated Somali militants planned to launch attacks; a secessionist group on the coast threatened — and perhaps already carried out — attacks; the tribes of the top two presidential candidates have a long history of tense relations; and 47 new governor races are being held, increasing the chances of electoral problems at the local level.

Perhaps most importantly, Uhuru Kenyatta, one of two top candidates for president, faces charges at the International Criminal Court for orchestrating the 2007-08 postelection violence. If he wins, the U.S. and Europe could scale back relations with Kenya, and Kenyatta may have to spend a significant portion of his presidency at The Hague. Kenyatta’s running mate, William Ruto, also faces charges at the ICC.

Long lines began forming early across the nation. In Kibera, Nairobi’s largest slum, some 1,000 people stood in several lines at one polling station before daybreak. Voter Arthur Shakwira said he began standing in line at 4 a.m. but left the queue over confusion about which line to stand in. Nearby, Amos Achola said he arrived at the polling station at 2 a.m. and was one of the first to vote.

Kenyatta, a Kikuyu who is the son of Kenya‘s founding president, faces Raila Odinga, a Luo whose father was the country’s first vice president. Polls show the two in a close race, with support for each in the mid-40-percent range. Eight candidates are running for president, making it likely Odinga and Kenyatta will be matched up in an April run-off, when tensions could be even higher.

Most voters in Kibera, like Achola, support Odinga.

“I think he …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News

News, Politics, Government

Former UN chief says violence could mar Kenya vote

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The former head of the United Nations, who helped save Kenya from spiraling deeper into election violence five years ago, is warning that intimidation, ethnic rivalry and violence could undermine Kenya‘s March presidential vote.

Kofi Annan said Saturday that Kenya is on a positive trajectory five years after post-election violence killed more than 1,000 people and forced some 600,000 from their homes.

Annan helped broker a political deal between the top two contenders for president. That deal saw Mwai Kibaki remain president and challenger Raila Odinga become prime minister.

Annan said he fears ethnic rivalry could see violence return when the nation votes March 4. It’s likely the nation will see a run-off vote for president sometime in April that could have even more potential for violence.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News