Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta said on Friday he disagreed with a Supreme Court ruling that nullified his win in last month’s presidential election, but that he would respect the decision and urged citizens to do the same.
“The court has made its decision. We respect it. We don’t agree with it. And again, I say peace … peace, peace, peace,” he said in a televised address. “That is the nature of democracy”.
Meanwhile following the court declaration, the opposition leader has called election results fraudulent and accused electoral body of crimes against the state.
Also the head of Kenya’s electoral commission has said he intends to make personnel changes and urged the prosecution of any staff members involved in violations after the Supreme Court decision.
“To protect the sovereign will of the Kenyan people, the Commission intends to make internal change of personnel and processes as we prepare for the next Kenyan election in 60 days,” IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said at a press conference in Nairobi.
Chebukati said it is the transmission of results that is once again in dispute and urged the Supreme Court to release details of their findings so that the voting authority can implement any necessary changes to its processes.
“The focus of the decision is in the transmission of presidential result. Therefore there were no aspersions on the voting and the counting of the votes and therefore the will of the Kenyan people was fully respected in this respect,” he said.
Chebukati also rejected calls for his resignation, saying “I’m confident in my commission.”
