President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has this morning traveled by plane to neighboring Kenya ahead of the inauguration of President-elect William Samoei Ruto happening today.
The President posted a message on his social media accounts indicating that he would attend the swearing-in of his recently declared comrade. He set off at approximately 9:30 am aboard the Uganda Airbus.
I have this morning departed for Nairobi, Kenya to witness the inauguration of H.E @WilliamsRuto as the 5th President of the Republic of Kenya. pic.twitter.com/Gk6jeFN3mX
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) September 13, 2022
Museveni congratulated Ruto on his election as the 5th president of Kenya, immediately after he was announced the winner.
In a statement, Museveni said Uganda is willing to work closely with Kenya to advance the regional and continental agenda through the East African Community, the African Union, and other multilateral platforms.
“Further to my telephone call last night upon your victory, I wish to reassure you of Uganda’s commitment to continue partnering with Kenya in advancing regional and continental agenda through the East African Community, African Union and other multilateral platforms. Our bilateral cooperation will score tremendous achievements and I look forward to working more closely with you,” Museveni’s stated then
Ruto was declared the winner of the hotly contested election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya According to results released by chairman Wafula Chebukati, Ruto won the race with 7,076,064 votes representing 50.53 percent against Odinga’s 6,833,896 votes representing 48.80 percent of the total votes cast.
However, the election results were contested by his major rival Raila Odinga who rejected them on grounds that Ruto rigged the elections in his favor. Odinga ran to the Supreme Court to overturn the polling process but lost again to Ruto on Tuesday last week.
Also Read: Kenya's Odinga Challenges Election Result in Court
The eight petitions challenging the elections were all dismissed. The court found some were based on forged documents and "sensational information", Chief Justice Martha Koome said in a unanimous decision on behalf of the seven judges.
No credible evidence that the electronic voting transmission system had been tampered with by a supposed "middle man" was presented, she said.
Also Read: Ruto’s win upheld by Supreme Court in Kenya
Koome also said that Ruto had met the constitutional threshold of garnering 50%+1 of votes cast.
Museveni and Ruto have over the years enjoyed a good working relationship that has seen Ruto campaign for Museveni’s re-election.
All East African Community presidents have confirmed attending. They include Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan, Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Salva Kiir (South Sudan) among others
