Kenya’s new president to take over on March 26

By Felix Olick

NAIROBI, KENYA: The stage is set for the swearing in of a new president after the general elections with the Government announcing the new Head of State will be sworn in on March 26 in case of a round one election win.

Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia on Friday released the transition timetable  that showed the new president will be sworn in three weeks after elections.

In case an election petition is filed to challenge the winner and its dismissed, then the swearing in will take place on April 16.

Should there be no clear winner in the first round and a re-run is held, then the president-elect will be sworn in on April 30.

According to the constitution, a presidential candidate must garner 50 plus one percent of the total votes cast.

The law further states that the presidential candidate must also get 25 percent of votes in half of the 47 counties.

Kimemia released the timetable during a breakfast meeting at a Nairobi hotel and announced that President Kibaki will remain in office until the new president is sworn in.

President Mwai Kibaki is likely to remain in power till June if the General Election spills into a run off and the results challenged in court.

 “It is important to note that the Constitution under article 142 provides that the incumbent president will continue to serve till the next president is sworn in. So there will be no vacuum,” said Kimemia.

Speaking in Nairobi on the status of Kenya’s preparedness for the General Election, Kimemia revealed that the Government has set aside security personnel for each presidential candidate.

He urged the candidates to corporate with the Government in identifying security personnel of their choice.

According to article 138 of the Constitution, a presidential election shall be cancelled and a new election held if a candidate for the position or deputy on or before the scheduled election date.