Lawyers call on Kenyans to accept court’s verdict

By Augustine Oduor

KENYA: Lawyers said the Supreme Court decision should be respected and the country should move on after the historic ruling.

Lawyers who spoke to The Standard On Sunday urged Kenyans to move on since the court had discharged its constitutional duty.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s lawyer George Oraro said the decision was final and would not comment further on the decision until he sees the comprehensive judgement.

He said he looked forward to a time when the court would look at all evidence before reaching its decision. He was referring to the rejection of the over 800-page affidavit by the judges.

Legal take

 “I have done my job and the court has done its job. And I think Kenya is one because they have seen what the courts can do.

Mr Ahmednasir Abdullahi, who represented the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, said there was no evidence to invalidate the election of Uhuru Kenyatta.

He said: “If you look at the facts of the case and the law then the court did the right thing.”

“There was basically no facts brought before the court to show the electoral agency bungled the election,” he added. He said the legal process was over and asked Kenyans to move on.

Another lawyer in the Jubilee camp, Kipchumba Murkomen said the court has confirmed the people’s choice must be respected. He said the truth is out and that it shall set Kenyans free. “The Judiciary has done its part and it is our responsibility now to move the country forward,” he said.

Attorney General Githu  Muigai said the authority of the Supreme Court has been established. He said the ruling has moved Kenya and its citizens a notch higher in the quest for democracy.  “This is a great day for the Supreme Court and the legal system,” he said.

Mr Muigai said the ruling has established a precedent and the true winners are Kenyans. “The decision has shown Kenya is growing stronger and is guided by the rule of law,” he said.

One of the CORD lawyers James Orengo said the rejection of the larger affidavit might have punctured their case. “If they looked at it they may have reached a different conclusion,” he said.  The Siaya Senator said the Constitution should be the yardstick at the end of the election.