Outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta has confirmed that he will hand over power to his political friend turned foe William Samoei Ruto.
Speaking during an Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party parliamentary group at the Maasai Lodge on Wednesday, September 7, Uhuru said he will hand over power to President-elect while smiling because it is his constitutional duty.
“I will hand over power smiling because it’s my Constitutional duty,” Uhuru said.
However, the Jubilee party leader said his handshake partner and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will forever remain his leader.
“… but my leader is Baba, Raila Odinga. Politics is not a matter to keep in your pockets,” President Uhuru said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had endorsed Raila Odinga to take over from him in the August 9, presidential election in which Raila emerged second after William Ruto.
Uhuru further faulted Kenyans over the decision they made in the August 9 General Election, stating that they denied themselves the opportunity of having a united country.
“You denied yourself an opportunity to bring the country together, you haven’t denied Raila,” the outgoing Head of State remarked.
Ruto is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, September 13, after which his predecessor to be will hand him the instruments of power.
This comes after the seven judges of the Supreme Court on Monday, September 5, upheld his election as the fifth President.
Earlier on, President-elect William Ruto revealed that he had a phone call with President Uhuru Kenyatta who promised a smooth transition.
“I had a telephone conversation with my boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta. We discussed the just concluded general election and the transition as envisaged by our democratic tradition and practice,” William Ruto said in a Tweet.
