Ruto Pledges to Accept Supreme Court Verdict on Petitions Challenging His Victory

President-elect William Ruto has pledged to accept the Supreme Court’s decision on the petitions challenging his victory in the August 9th presidential election.  

Ruto, who spoke during the swearing-in ceremony of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at KICC on Thursday, urged other leaders to respect the decisions of institutions handling election disputes.

“…I ask all leaders of Kenya to listen to the loud message coming from the citizens of our country. They are speaking to us loudly that they want their politics to be non-tribal and peaceful,” said Ruto.

“In this election, we have seen a very new phenomenon…That we all voted and the next day we were ready to go to work and go on with our lives and everybody on to their hustle. That is the loud statement that is coming from the people of Kenya to those of us who are leaders.”

The seven judges of the Supreme Court have until September 5th to hear and deliver a ruling on the petitions challenging Ruto’s win.

“I'm asking all of us as leaders to listen to what the people of Kenya are saying so that we can conclude the remaining steps of our election, in a peaceful, orderly, respectful manner, respecting all the institutions that will discharge their responsibilities because we are a country governed by the rule of law and by our constitution,” said Ruto.

Ruto was declared the winner of the August 9th presidential election after garnering 7,176,141 votes, representing 50.49 percent of the total votes. 

His main rival Raila Odinga, who secured 6,942,930 votes (48.85 percent), is among the eight petitioners who want the apex court to nullify Ruto’s victory.