President Uhuru Kenyatta: Worried by the electoral officer’s death?
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and former President Oluseguan Obasajo have congratulated President Uhuru Kenyatta on his re-election as President of the Republic of Kenya.
They did in two separate letters they sent to the Kenyan leader.
In a letter signed by the Acting President after the formal announcement of the election results over the weekend, and addressed to the Kenyan leader, he said: “I have the honour on behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to congratulate you on your successful re-election as the President of the Republic of Kenya.”
Osinbajo noted that President Kenyatta’s re-election bears testimony to his selfless service to Kenya and to the giant strides he has taken in the transformation of the country in the last few years.
“Permit me therefore to use this momentous occasion to reiterate Nigeria’s support and cooperation with Kenya in our collective determination to advance the development of Africa and its people,” the acting president noted.
Osinbajo extended his best wishes to the people of Kenya on the successful conclusion of the August 8 general elections in the country and wished Kenyatta a very successful new term in office.
Obasanjo has also written to congratulate Kenyatta on his re-election as the president of Kenya.
Obasanjo’s letter, dated August 12, noted that last Tuesday’s election in the East African country is not devoid of “some elements of push and pull” associated with recent elections in the continent.
He however said rather than see these issues as challenges, they should be used as an opportunity to “bind the wound and to unite a country divided by the electoral process.”
“All friends of Kenya were anxious that there should be no similar violence that followed the election in 2008. So far, so good and thanks to God,” Obasanjo, a two-time head of state of Nigeria wrote.
“May I crave your indulgence to suggest that for stability of democracy in Kenya and for the interest of the people of Kenya as a whole, that the allegations of manipulation of results in the process of transmission should be thoroughly investigated with an appropriate measures taken to ensure integrity of future elections, as may be necessary,” he added.
Pockets of violence have erupted after Mr kenyatta was declared winner of the election having scored 54.3 per cent of total vote cast.
No fewer than 10 people, including a child, have been shot after protesters took to the streets.
The country’s opposition has rejected the result calling it a “charade” and a “disaster.”
“We are not going to be party to it. Our issues have not been addressed. One can conclude they [electoral commission] are not keen on taking our concerns seriously,”said Musalia Mudavadi, a senior official of the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) and former Kenyan vice president.