President-elect William Ruto will be sworn in as Kenya’s fifth head of state on Tuesday, September 13, after the Supreme Court cleared his path to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Following the unanimous ruling of the Chief Justice Martha Koome-led seven-judge bench on Monday, critical constitutional timelines that must be observed kicked in.
Article 141 (2) of the Constitution provides that the president-elect takes oath on the first Tuesday following the seventh day of the Supreme Court ruling.
“The President-elect shall be sworn in on the first Tuesday following the seventh day following the date on which the court renders a decision declaring the election to be valid if any petition has been filed under Article 140,” the law states.
With Raila Odinga’s loss at the apex court, Ruto is only a step away from assuming office in an elaborate ceremony to be organised by the Assumption of Office Committee created by law.
“The President-elect assumes office by taking and subscribing the oath or affirmation of allegiance, and the oath or affirmation for the execution of the functions of the office,” the Constitution reads.
The Assumption of Office of the President Act sets up a committee to be charged with the management of the swearing-in event and giving security briefings to the incoming president.
Their schedule of activities started immediately after the court declared Ruto as the President-elect, the same having been suspended ahead of the ruling.
The committee, as per the law, is expected to publish, by notice in the Kenya Gazette, the date and place for the conduct of the swearing-in, which must be within Nairobi.
On Monday, a team of government officials inspected Kasarani Stadium, which is among the possible venues.
Ruto had nominated outgoing National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, UDA secretary general Veronica Maina and Uasin Gishu Woman MP Gladys Shollei as co-opted members of the team chaired by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.
“The swearing-in of the President-elect shall be conducted in a public ceremony held in the capital city,” the law says, adding that the said day will be a public holiday.
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi will administer the oath in the presence of Chief Justice Martha Koome or Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu in her absence.
The oath-taking must take place not later than 2pm, with the law providing that the Deputy Chief Justice only undertakes the task where the Chief Justice is incapacitated.
Ruto will be required to sign a certificate of inauguration in the presence of the Chief Justice or the Deputy Chief Justice.
After the signing, President Uhuru Kenyatta will hand over the sword and the Constitution to Ruto to symbolise the handing over.
Ruto will be the first to take oath before his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, proceeds to take the same, with slight modifications to fit the functions of his office.
“The President shall, upon the swearing in of the Deputy President-elect, give an inauguration speech to the nation,” the law says.
-Edited by SKanyara
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