Kenya’s Odinga vows peaceful settlement of electoral disputes

Kenya's defeated presidential candidate Raila Odinga reacts to supporters as he arrives to hold a press conference at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on Aug 22, 2022, after filing a petition to the country's top court challenging the result of the Aug 9, 2022 election that handed victory to his rival William Ruto.  (YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP)

NAIROBI – Kenyan veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has assured the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of a peaceful settlement of electoral disputes in the country.

The 77-year-old Odinga who has challenged in court the presidential election results announced by the electoral body on Aug 15 where his main competitor in the race, the sitting Deputy President, William Ruto was declared the winner, told Guterres in a telephone conversation on Friday night that he will respect the ruling of the Supreme Court.

Odinga appreciated UN chief Antonio Guterres's call, saying it reflected the high regard for Kenya and its stability held globally

"Odinga has expressed his appreciation for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for reaching out to him with a telephone call regarding the elections in Kenya and subsequent developments," Odinga's office said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya on Saturday.

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During the telephone conversation that lasted about 10 minutes, Guterres expressed appreciation to Odinga for opting to pursue his challenge of the declared presidential election results through established democratic and legal institutions and the Supreme Court.

Odinga appreciated Guterres's call, saying it reflected the high regard for Kenya and its stability held globally.

"Odinga also assured Guterres that Kenyans were totally committed to democracy and peaceful settlement of divisive electoral disputes and that he will respect the ruling by the Supreme Court," it said.  

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source https://eastmud.com/latest-news/kenyas-odinga-vows-peaceful-settlement-of-electoral-disputes/