Kenya: Osinbajo to attend Ruto’s presidential inauguration

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday departed Abuja for Nairobi to represent Nigeria at the inauguration of William Ruto as the fifth president of Kenya.

His media aide, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement.

Mr Osinbajo will join other leaders across Africa and beyond for the swearing-in ceremony at Kasarani stadium, Nairobi, with about 20 heads of state expected to grace the ceremony.

Outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta will hand over the instruments of power, including a ceremonial sword and a copy of Kenya’s constitution, to the new president.

On September 5, Kenya’s Supreme Court affirmed Mr Ruto’s electoral victory in last month’s election. The election was held on August 9.

The vice president is accompanied on the trip by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, and the special adviser to the president on political matters, Babafemi Ojudu.

Mr Osinbajo will return to Abuja later on Tuesday.

Voters elected the president, members of the national assembly and senate, county governors and members of the 47 county assemblies.

Kenya’s Supreme Court ruled that Mr Ruto, 55, was properly elected president, dismissing several petitions seeking to annul the election results.

His rival, Raila Odinga and others had alleged there had been massive fraud.

But in a scathing ruling, the judges said some of the petitioners had falsified evidence.

Mr Ruto garnered 50.5 per cent of the vote in the closely fought election against 48.8 per cent for Mr Odinga.

(NAN)