Life Changes Sharply For Uhuru, Ruto

President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta.

BY IRENE GITHINJI
TUESDAY, 2 APRIL, 2013

With one week to go before President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta takes the oath of office, fine details have been put in place for the first presidential transition ceremony that will be conducted in accordance with strict constitutional guidance. The People has learnt that Uhuru and Deputy President-elect William Ruto have been subjected to strict security procedure as they had not been used to since they were declared election winners on March 9, as the committee managing the transition prepares to usher then into the trappings of the pinnacle of State power on April 9.

Since then, the Assumption of the Office of President committee, which has been overseeing their security, has directed that Uhuru and Ruto cannot appear together in a public function, like church services, until they are sworn-in or unless it’s of sheer necessity. Sources in the committee also told The People that the two cannot take the same aircraft, cannot be airborne at the same time and cannot be out of the country at the same time. Currently, Ruto is understood to have taken a short holiday to a neighbouring country with his family.

The President-elect and his deputy will lose their communication independence that they had been used to as civilians, the committee member said. Their mobile phone numbers and old telephone handsets will cease to exist while all their phone communication must now first be handled by their close security personnel for vetting before they can take them.

The two cannot travel anywhere or meet anyone without the clearance of their security detail, while they must have 24-hour presidential security cover wherever they are. Ruto was said to have been used to driving himself, a luxury he will not be allowed during his tenure. Also covered by their security detail will be their close family members, wife and children, as well as their Nairobi and rural homes. On the day of swearing in, Kibaki is scheduled to leave State House in his presidential motorcade for Kasarani, to arrive after Uhuru and Ruto, since he will still be the First citizen at that point.

After the ceremony, Kibaki the miniature flag on Kibaki’s official car will be folded as his motorcade, now leaner, leaves Kasarani for his private residence. Uhuru will inherit the full fleet to Statehouse where he will become the new tenant, while Ruto would head to his Karen home or the deputy president’s new mansion in the same suburb. The change-over of power will include the ceremonial sword to mark the change of guard from Kibaki as the Commander in Chief (C-in-C) of Kenya Defence Forces, to Uhuru.

Kibaki’s white presidential flag will be lowered as Uhuru's navy blue one hoisted. The passing of instruments of power will take place after Uhuru takes oath of office and signs a certificate of inauguration. At that moment Emilio Mwai Kibaki will cease being President of the Republic of Kenya, ending a ten-year term, and his place will be taken by Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. Security briefings that Uhuru and Ruto had been receiving are in accordance with Article 10 of the Assumption of the Office of the President Act 2012, which stipulates that t he 'Assumption Committee ensures that the President-elect receives security briefings from respective national security organs.'

“The President-elect shall, in consultation with the Committee, carry out such preparations as may be necessary for the purpose of assuming office. He may, in carrying out preparations, request in writing for information from a public officer as the President-elect may consider necessary and the officer shall provide the information within a reasonable time,” the Act says. The law provides that the swearing-in of the President-elect be conducted in a public ceremony in the capital city in accordance with Article 141 of the Constitution, presided over by the Chief Justice, or in his absence, the Deputy Chief Justice.

Under Article 141 of the Constitution, the President-elect will be sworn-in on the seventh day following the date on which the court renders a decision declaring the election valid, if any petition had been filed under Article 140. The Assumption of Office Committee, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Francis Kimemia, is now expected to publish, by notice in the Gazette, the date and place for the conduct of the swearing-in ceremony. “The President-elect shall, during the swearing-in ceremony, take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation of allegiance and the oath or affirmation for the execution of the functions of office in accordance with Article 141 of the Constitution,” says the Act.

“The oath or affirmation shall be administered to the President-elect by the Chief Registrar before the Chief Justice, or, in the absence of the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice, not earlier than 10am and not later than 2pm on the material day, save that the Deputy Chief Justice shall undertake the task only in circumstances where the Chief Justice is incapacitated,” it adds.

Upon completion of the swearing in of the President-elect, the deputy President-elect, William Ruto will take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation of allegiance and oath or affirmation for the execution of the functions of office in accordance with Article 148 of the Constitution. “The President shall, upon the swearing in of the Deputy President elect, give an inauguration speech to the nation,” reads in part the Assumption of office Act.