It’s Uhuru for Kenya

The son of President Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s founding father, Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, was yesterday declared winner of Kenya’s presidential polls after garnering 50.07 per cent of the vote. Kenyatta’s 6,173,433 beat his archrival Raila Odinga’s 5,340,546 votes (43.28 per cent) out of a total 12,330,028 ballots cast, according to Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). IEBC chairman, Issack Hassan, said the elections had been complex and difficult but also credible and transparent“There can be victory without victims. We have learnt very valuable lessons. The commission managed to conduct one of the most complex elections,” said Issack Hassan.“I therefore declare Uhuru Kenyatta the duly elected president of the Republic of Kenya.” Other presidential aspirants included Martha Karua who got 43,881, Prof. James ole Kiyiapi (40,998), Mohammed Abduba Dida (52,848), Musalia Mudavadi (483,981), Paul Muite (12,580) and Peter Kenneth (72,786).“We celebrate the triumph of democracy, peace and nationhood and we have demonstrated the political maturity that surpassed our expectations,” said Kenyatta In his acceptance speech.“To those who voted for opponents, let us remember in democracy, and some candidates lose, but the citizens of a country never lose. “I thank the people of the Republic of Kenya who have shown patience over the last few days as we all awaited the outcome of this elections, and the thousands of officials who worked with the IEBC to make this, the most free and most fair general election in our nation’s history,” Kenyatta added.“Despite the challenges that you faced, you managed to keep the trust of Kenyans and to do your job professionally,” he told IEBC.Kenyatta thanked his voters and pledged to do everything within his capacity to deliver. He also saluted Odinga and other presidential candidates for their spirited campaigns and invited them to work together to move Kenya forward.The 51-year-old outgoing deputy Prime Minister is the first leader to take power whilst facing trial in The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).Speaking to the Sunday Times yesterday, the Minister of East African Community (EAC) Affairs, Monique Mukaruliza congratulated Kenya for having peaceful elections that did not bring any challenge to the region.“We are happy the elections have been peaceful and we are going to continue the process of EAC integration,” she said.According to Moses Kirui, a Kenyan resident in Rwanda, what Raila Odinga is saying is not that he wants to be the president, but concerned with irregularities in the elections.“Whatever the case, I accept the results and my major priority is that Kenya remains peaceful,” he said.