Kenyatta took the oath which was administered by the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Amadi, pledging to uphold the Constitution and rule justly/PSCU
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 28 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has taken oath of allegiance and due execution of his office at a ceremony presided over by Chief Justice David Maraga.
Kenyatta took the oath which was administered by the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Amadi, pledging to uphold the Constitution and rule justly.
He then proceeded to sign the oaths amid ululations and cheers by over 60,000 Kenyans who witnessed his inauguration at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.
Deputy President William Ruto took similar oaths – one swearing allegiance to the nation and the other pledging to duly execute functions of his office.
Prior to the administration of the oaths, Kenyatta and Ruto arrived amid wild cheers by thousands of Kenyans who filled the 60,000 capacity sports arena, some who arrived at the facility from as early as 4am.
President Kenyatta then proceeded to inspect a guard of honour mounted by the three divisions of the Kenya Defence Forces – the Army, Air Force and the Navy.
Kenyatta and Ruto were accompanied by their spouses, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Rachael Ruto who held bibles on their behalf as the oaths were being administered.
In attendance at the ceremony were a host of foreign leaders including Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Edgar Lungu (Zambia), Ian Khama (Botswana), Salva Kiir Mayardit (South Sudan), Ismaïl Omar Guelleh Muhammed (Djibouti), Ali Bongo Ondimba (Gabon), Hage Geingob (Namibia), Abdullahi Farmajo (Somalia), Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Guinea’s Prime Minister Mamady Youla.
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria was represented at the event by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Former President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete and ex-Prime Minister Edward Lowassa also witnessed the occasion.
Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and senior civil servants also attended the event among them Acting Interior CS Fred Matiangi, Foreign Affairs’ Amina Mohammed, Najib Balala (Tourism), Raychelle Omamo (Defence), and Aden Mohammed (Industrialization).
Chairperson of the Council of Governors and Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok, Governors Mike Sonko (Nairobi), Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) were among county chiefs attending the ceremony.
The leadership of both House of Parliament – National Assembly and Senate – was represented by Speakers Justin Muturi and Kenneth Lusaka respectively.
Majority Leaders Aden Duale (NA) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Senate) also graced the inauguration.
Kenyatta and Ruto were cleared for inauguration by the Supreme Court Monday last week after six judges of the court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed two petitions challenging the presidential election conducted on October 26.
The bench under the leadership of Chief Justice Maraga ruled the petitions lacked merit.
The court had on September 1 nullified an initial presidential election conducted on August 8 on grounds of irregularities and illegalities.
The ruling was at the time rendered through a majority of four against two dissenting judges.
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