EU urges peaceful resolution of election dispute in Kenya

ANKARA

The European Union urged Kenyan authorities Tuesday to resolve an election dispute in the East African country peacefully within the boundaries of the rule of law.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell in a statement said the EU commends Kenyans for the "calm and peaceful" election day on Aug. 9.

"The EU takes note of the results by the IEBC declaring Mr. William Ruto winner of the election and the decision to appeal by Mr. Raila Odinga. Ongoing dispute and any remaining concerns about this election must be resolved peacefully through existing legal mechanisms," Borrell stressed.

He said political and societal leaders must avoid any violence and call for calm.

The EU-Kenya Strategic Dialogue begun in June 2021 will develop further with the new Kenyan leadership, he underlined.

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday rejected the results of the presidential election, which he was declared to have lost.

Addressing a news conference in the capital Nairobi, Odinga said the "flawed" results were a setback to democracy in the country.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I want to repeat that we totally and without reservations reject the presidential results announced yesterday by Mr. Chebukati,” Odinga said.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chair Wafula Chebukati on Monday declared William Samoei Ruto the country’s fifth president.

Protests broke out in key opposition strongholds across Kenya following the results. Ruto, who was announced president-elect, pledged to respect the law if the opposition challenges the election result in the courts.