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Raila concedes defeat as plans for inauguration on April 9 begin in earnest

Saturday March 30 2013

Prime Minister Raila Odinga conceded defeat on Saturday but insisted that the March 4 presidential election was fraught with irregularities.

But the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leader wished President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta well as he assumes office on April 9.

“I wish Mr Kenyatta and his team well,” Mr Odinga told journalists at his office in Nairobi.

The Orange Democratic Movement party leader lost a petition in the country’s Supreme Court challenging the declaration of Mr Kenyatta as President-elect by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The PM said he would continue fighting for the rights of Kenyans and betterment of their lives.

“For Kenyans who supported us in our petition, we will continue to work for you and help you achieve your dreams,” he said.

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He said although he would abide by the Supreme Court’s decision as he had earlier promised on March 9, Cord had “logical evidence” of malpractices in the elections. He added that the technological failure at the IEBC witnessed in the polls required full audit.

He said he had no personal grudge with Mr Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

“I and my brother Kalonzo Musyoka had right of taking our case to court,” he said.

“Kenyans have the chance to know what indeed happened.”

Saying “the Constitution remains supreme,” Mr Odinga added that his petition was meant to entrench democracy.

“I hope the incoming government will have fidelity to our Constitution,” Mr Odinga said.

“As our national anthem says, let Justice be our shield and defender.”

East Africa heads of state are among dignitaries expected in Kenya for the swearing in of President Kibaki’s successor Uhuru Kenyatta.

Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza are expected to attend the state function at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, some eight kilometres from Nairobi’s central business district.

The date will be published in a special gazette notice. Rehearsals for the ceremony have begun. The inauguration day is, by law, a public holiday.

The timing of the ceremony is guided by the Assumption to the Office of the President Act, which has streamlined the transfer of power from president to president.

A meticulous plan has been put in place by a committee led by the Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia. The President will be sworn in by Judiciary Chief Registrar Gladys Shollei in the presence of Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, European Union heads of state and key representatives have also been invited.

The Kimemia committee has, in the past two months, been working on a transition timetable of functions leading to Mr Kibaki’s formal handover to the new President. The schedule factored in the swearing in and assumption of office of Members of Parliament, senators and county governors.

The programme, which had been prepared well ahead of the elections, had featured various dates as possible swearing in days. The earliest date was March 26 and latest June 18.

Mr Kimemia said the police have put in place adequate security measures for the event, which will be beamed live on television and screens across the country at public venues.

The ceremony, according to the law, should start at 10am and end at 2pm. The President-elect will arrive before the incumbent. Mr Kibaki will inspect his last guard of honour upon arrival at the stadium.

After Mr Kenyatta is installed, his deputy William Ruto will be sworn in. Upon signing the certificate of inauguration, Mr Kibaki will hand over the instruments of power, which include a sword and the Constitution, to his successor.

The Deputy President will invite Mr Kibaki to make a speech, after which he will invite Mr Kenyatta to make his.

By Lucas Barasa and Edith Fortunate

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