Tuesday declared public holiday for President-elect Ruto’s inauguration
The government has declared next Tuesday a public holiday, being the day President-elect William Ruto and Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua will be sworn in.
The Assumptions of Office Committee headed by head of public Service Joseph Kinyua has stated that the oath of office will be administered by the Registrar of Judiciary in the presence of the Chief Justice at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
“The date of swearing in will be a public holiday of general observance throughout the territory of the republic,” said Mr Kinyua.
Dr Ruto will be the first to be sworn in, followed by Mr Gachagua during the ceremony which will commence at 10am.
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Meanwhile, preparations for Dr Ruto’s inauguration as the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya are in top gear. Handover preparations began on August 12, when the Assumption of Office Committee held its inaugural meeting and assured the public of a seamless process.
The military has also been conducting rehearsals at Kasarani where security has since been tightened ahead of the event. Thousands of Kenyans, heads of missions and a number of heads of state are expected to attend Tuesday’s ceremony.
At the same time, Mr Kinyua said the swearing in ceremony is an opportunity for the county to celebrate the strength and vibrancy of Constitution 2010 and the country’s democratic process.
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He also called on Kenyans to join hands as the country transitions into the fifth administration, so as to continue building the country.
Dr Ruto has already invited more than 40 heads of state to attend his inauguration. The invitations are being made to countries identified by former Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba, who led Dr Ruto’s international relations docket at his presidential campaign secretariat.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been extremely helpful in coordinating this effort. We have been in touch with them. We are doing it together. We expect that we are going to have a good number,” said Mr Namwamba.
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Article 141 of the Constitution says the swearing-in of the President-elect shall be in public before the Chief Justice or the Deputy Chief Justice on the first Tuesday following the 14th day after the date of the declaration of the result of the presidential election if no petition has been filed. Or in the event of a petition, the seventh day following the date on which the Supreme Court renders a decision declaring the election to be valid.
In May, the National Treasury committee allocated Sh200 million to cater for the transition of power activities.
“The allocation of Sh200 million under the Executive Office of the President is provided for in the National Treasury for Assumption of Office activities,” the Treasury said in a report on the Pre-Election Economic Update.