The European Union (EU) has weighed in on Raila Odinga's decision to challenge the presidential election results of the Tuesday August 9 polls.
According to the EU, the presidential election dispute should be legally and peacefully pursued through the right channels. The union further noted that all election-related disputes or concerns must be addressed in accordance with the law.
"The EU takes note of the results by the IEBC declaring William Ruto winner of the election and the decision to appeal by Raila Odinga," read the EU statement in part.
However, the union commended Kenyans for being calm and peaceful throughout the electioneering period. Political leaders were urged to guide the country to continue upholding peace during the transition period.
“All political and societal leaders must avoid any violence and call for calm. It is time for political leadership and responsibility from all those linked to the electoral process,” added the statement.
Following the announcement of William Ruto as the president-elect on Monday, August 15, the Azimio La Umoja flagbearer on Tuesday, August 16 at KICC announced that he would take legal action.
Raila added that the results announced by the IEBC chairman were null and void, emphasizing that Wafula Chebukati's announcement of Ruto as the winner was unconstitutional since 4 out of 7 commissioners did not agree with the results.
"Our view in Azimio is clear, the figures by Wafula Chebukati are null and void and must be quashed by a court of law. In our view, there is neither a legally and validly declared winner nor a president-elect," Raila lamented.
The leader mentioned that he was shocked by the results announced at the Bomas of Kenya where he garnered 6,942,930 votes against Ruto's 7,176,141.
Notably, a petition challenging the presidential election results should be filed within seven days from the declaration of the results by IEBC.
The 7-day timeline is provided under the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and Supreme Court Presidential Election Petition Rules published in 2017.
