Let Us Hope Positive Resolution To Dispute Is Reached By All

If IEBC did their work right, he said Cord will have graciously accepted the poll outcome.

BY JOSEPH NDONGA
MONDAY, 11 MARCH, 2013

Moments after the chairman of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Issack Hassan released the final tally of presidential election results and declared Jubilee flag bearer Uhuru Kenyatta the president-elect, Cord presidential candidate Raila Odinga, who trailed him closely, addressed local and international media during which he announced that the coalition would contest the results in court. If IEBC did their work right, he said Cord will have graciously accepted the poll outcome.

The final results showed Uhuru leading with more than 800,000 votes cast. Raila, who spoke for the first time since March 4 when Kenyans turned up in large numbers to elect their leaders, said the exercise was marred with gross electoral malpractices. He alleged that Cord agents were kicked out of the national tallying centre after they queried why in some constituencies those who voted exceeded the number of registered voters.

He gave as an example a constituency in Laikipia, where the final tally was announced twice and two different figures were given. He also questioned why electronic voter transmission gadget broke down soon after the tallying of presidential votes started at Bomas of Kenya. It is the wish of Kenyans that the matter be settled speedily so that the country can move forward.

As stipulated in article 140 [2], the Supreme Court has exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and determine presidential petitions within 14 days. As stated in Chapter One of the same article a person may file the petition within seven days after the declaration of final presidential results. Notably, after reading the statement titled “Democracy is on trial”, the Prime Minister fielded questions from journalists.

When asked whether he would accept the verdict of court if he loses the case, he answered yes, certainly, yes. Raila said the Cord team decided to move to the court because they have faith and confidence in the reformed Judiciary. In a reaction, the president-elect and his deputy extended an olive branch to their rivals.