Court throws out another petition seeking to block Ruto’s swearing-in
The Supreme Court of Kenya has thrown out yet another petition that sought to bar President-elect William Ruto from ascending to power.
In a ruling on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, the Supreme Court struck out a petition that was filed by 11 activists who were challenging the suitability of President-elect William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua to hold office over alleged integrity issues.
“The court found it has no authority to address the issues raised by the activists. They should have filed the case at the High Court,” Supreme judges said.
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The 11 activists had moved to court seeking to stop the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Ruto and Mr Gachagua which had been scheduled for September 13.
The ruling comes just a day after a seven-judge Supreme Court bench upheld Dr Ruto’s election victory.
According to the results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson, Mr Wafula Chebukati on August 15, 2022, Dr Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes against Mr Odinga’s 6,942,930 votes.
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During the hearing of the case, a section of international media houses reported that Kenya is the only country where people are allowed to decide who will be the Head of State before the seven judges who sit at the Supreme Court decide on whether the election was conducted in a free and fair manner.
In 2017, in what was a historic judgment, the Supreme Court nullified the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ordered for a repeat poll that was boycotted by Mr Odinga.
The seven-judge Supreme Court bench that delivered Tuesday’s unanimous judgment comprised Chief Justice Martha Koome, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Justice William Ouko, Justice Isaac Lenaola, Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u, Justice Smokin Wanjala and Justice Mohamed Ibrahim.
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