Focus shifts to transition committee ahead of Ruto's swearing-in

The Supreme Court's decision marks the start of an eventful week for the Assumption of Office of the President Committee.

The team now has seven days to finalise the plans for the swearing-in of President-elect William Ruto and Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua into office next Tuesday, September 13.

The Supreme Court upheld Ruto's election as the fifth president of Kenya on Monday.

The swearing-in ceremony was delayed for two weeks after Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga challenged the election of Ruto.

But activities kicked off in earnest after the decision of the court.

Officers from the Directorate of Public Communications were at Kasarani Stadium yesterday to inspect media facilities.

The committee chaired by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua is expected to ensure smooth power transfer from President Uhuru Kenyatta to the new administration.

Aside from facilitating the handing over the process by the outgoing President to the President-elect, the committee is expected to organise for the security of the President-elect as well as his personnel

The team is also expected to coordinate the briefings of the President-elect by relevant public officers, facilitate communication between the outgoing President and the President-elect, prepare the programme and organize for the swearing-in ceremony, as well as carry out any other activity necessary for the performance of its functions under the Act and perform any other function assigned to it under any other written law.

Deputy President-elect Ruto's security was upgraded immediately after he was declared the winner of the August 9 presidential election by the electoral agency.

A team from the General Service Unit was added onto his detail and at his official residence in Karen.

But uncertainty has hung over the transition process even as Ruto suggested yesterday that he and Uhuru had not been in contact for months.

Ruto said that he would call the president so they could discuss the transition process.

However, the activities of the committee have been hampered by the legal challenges that came after its first meeting on August 12.

The committee has not met in the two weeks that Ruto's election was being challenged by Raila.

Devolution Principal Secretary Julius Korir, who is part of the committee, said that a technical subcommittee had met on Monday last week to prepare a venue for the ceremony and other related matters.

But while outgoing National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi said that he expected what was remaining to be completed, he suggested that the process had been dragged out.

Muturi, alongside Veronica Maina and Gladys Shollei was appointed to the committee to represent Ruto's Kenya Kwanza coalition.

The trio said that while the committee was eager to dispense with the transition of power, the mood changed and they have not had any meetings for two weeks.

"The initial idea was that the process needed to be done so that the handover process can begin but that enthusiasm died and we have not met for two weeks," said Muturi.

He, however, expects that after the conclusion of the court process they would resume meetings.

The mandate of the committee extends beyond the swearing-in. They are required after one month to prepare and submit a report to Parliament of its activities and gazette the report.