Kenya: We Don't Recognize Ruto As President of Kenya, Raila Says of Azimio

23 January 2023

Nairobi — Azimio One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga says he will not recognize President William Ruto's 'illegitimate' Presidency and his government, maintaining that the 2022 presidential poll was marred with irregularities.

Odinga who was speaking at the Kamukunji grounds after returning to the country from South Africa Monday afternoon called on Kenyans to resist the Kenya Kwanza government, which he stated conned their way into leadership.

He demanded that the Kenya Kwanza government resigns, saying they neither have the mandate nor the ability to govern the country.

"We as Azimio reject the 2022 election results. We cannot and will not recognize the Kenya Kwanza regime and consider the Kenya Kwanza government illegitimate. We don't recognize Mr. William Ruto as the President of Kenya," Odinga stated amid wild cheers from the crowd.

Odinga insisted that he won the 2022 elections with over two million votes, citing the alleged dossier released by the 'whistleblower'.

Apart from his strongholds of Western, Nyanza, Coast and Nairobi, Odinga said he also garnered alot of votes in the Mt. Kenya and Rift Valley regions, which secured him a clear win.

"According to the IEBC whistleblower data, we won handily with over 2 million votes. The people of the mountain voted for us as they have never done before. I want to thank the inhabitants of the mountain for giving me an insurmountable margin in the election," he stated.

Further, Odinga alongside other leaders including Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, Jeremiah Kioni among others,demanded a total overhaul of the IEBC in the country ahead of 2027 General Elections.

He demanded that an independent audit be conducted so as to ascertain the truth about the 2022 presidential poll.

He said there is no need for the 2027 elections until the dirt of 2022 is cleaned.

"We demand that IEBC records be made public and be audited by an impartial body. A forensic audit is non-negotiable," he added.

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