Azimio One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga is set to miss president – elect William Ruto’s swearing – in ceremony today at the Moi Kasarani Sports complex.
Through a statement issued yesterday, Odinga acknowledged that Ruto had personally invited him to the inauguration ceremony but will not be able to attend because he was currently out of the country.
Additionally, Odinga said that he still holds “serious concerns” about the August 9th elections in which Ruto was declared the eventual winner.
“This evening, I received a letter and a telephone call from H.E Dr. William Ruto inviting me to his inauguration set for tomorrow, September 13, 2022. I regret however that I will not be available for the inauguration because I am out of the country and I also have other serious concerns,” reads the statement by Odinga.
Odinga reiterated his previous position that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not conduct a free and fair election.
“For these reasons, the outcome of the election remains indeterminate,” said Odinga.
Further, he maintains that the ruling of the Supreme Court upholding Ruto’s election was not based on the facts and the law, even though we accepted it.
He said that once he returns to Kenya, he will – jointly with Azimio One Kenya coalition leaders- “announce our next steps as we seek to deepen and strengthen our democracy.”
Odinga’s political nemesis Ruto on the other hand will take the oath of office in today’s swearing in ahead of his tenure as the President of the Republic of Kenya.