Lawyer Steve Ogolla Explains Why Uhuru is Yet to Congratulate Ruto

By Kevin Koech

Posted on 19 August 2022

President-elect William Ruto and outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta PHOTO/COURTESY

Constitutional lawyer Steve Ogolla has explained why outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta is yet to congratulate President-elect William Ruto.

In an interview on NTV, the lawyer said Uhuru is yet to acknowledge Ruto’s win since he is the chairman of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance.

Ogolla said by congratulating Ruto, it might be interpreted as Uhuru is content with the outcome of the election.

However, the lawyer said if Uhuru speaks on Ruto’s win as the president and not the Azimio chairman it would not affect Raila Odinga’s dispute over the election results.

“He could say – at this advanced stage, the commission has made a declaration of the president-elect, I join them in congratulating him but this does not mean endorsement as finality – and create a balance, so that he doesn’t put Raila Odinga politically embarrassing situation

“But also he cannot overprotect Raila to the extent that he compromises the tranquillity and cohesion in the country,” Ogolla said.

As earlier reported, Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua that it is not a must for President Uhuru Kenyatta to attend President-elect William Ruto’s swearing-in ceremony.

Uhuru is yet to acknowledge Ruto’s win days after IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced the DP as the president elect.

In an interview with Kass TV, Gachagua insisted that Uhuru will not be forced to attend the ceremony or even congratulate Ruto.

The DP-elect stated that the event only requires the presence of Chief Justice Martha Koome and Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Amadi, who will conduct the oath taking ceremony.

“Up to now, President Kenyatta hasn’t spoken to President-elect Ruto either through phone call or any other means. It is his right because we cannot force him

“If he doesn’t want to congratulate the president-elect, it is okay but plans for William Ruto to take over leadership of the country is going on smoothly since it is in the Constitution,” Gachagua said.