In the latest 7 minutes and 24 seconds video, President Uhuru Kenyatta has failed to mention his successor President-Elect William Ruto despite claiming to respect the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold the election of his deputy.
The outgoing president assured Kenyans that there will be a smooth transition and that the process had already begun.
“Today, the supreme court made a ruling on the presidential dispute upholding the results announced by IEBC. In keeping to the pledge that I made to uphold the rule of law, I commit to executing the orders of this court to the letter.
“It is my intention to oversee a smooth transition to the next administration and all the necessary orders to facilitate this process have already been issued,” the Head of State said.
Uhuru, who has been mum on Ruto’s win revealed that the transition began as early as August 10 and that he had issued the necessary orders to ensure the process is ongoing.
He called on all Kenyans to respect the decision by the apex court. However, he asked that they should hold the incoming government accountable.
“I urge the country to respect the institutions that midwife our leaders. I urge citizens to constantly put them under scrutiny for this is the civic duty of every Kenyan,” the outgoing president noted.
Nonetheless, President Kenyatta failed to congratulate his deputy on his election to succeed him nor on his victory at the Supreme Court. He however was general in his congratulatory message.
“I want to wish well all who have won as they guide our country into the future and I thank you all for the opportunity to serve. May God bless you all,” he noted.
His remarks come after president-elect William Ruto admitted that he had not spoken with his boss over months. Ruto noted that he would make the first move to his former boss.
“I have not talked to him in months but shortly I will be making a call to him so that we can have a conversation on the process of transition,” the outgoing DP noted.
Ruto is set to be sworn in on Tuesday, September 13 – the first Tuesday after the seventh day of issuing of the verdict of the presidential election petition.
