President Elect William Ruto Has No Powers, Popular Constitutional Lawyer Weighs in on an Important Matter
President Elect William Ruto Has No Powers, Popular Constitutional Lawyer Weighs in on an Important Matter
President Elect William Ruto Has No Powers, Popular Constitutional Lawyer Weighs in on an Important Matter
President Uhuru Kenyatta will gazette the first parliamentary sitting which is supposed to happen within 30 days after elections as per the requirements of the constitution. All elected Members of Parliament will first take an oath of office after being gazetted, after which, the President will call for the first sitting which can take place anywhere within the republic and not necessarily within the parliament building. The clerk’s will preside over all the events prior election o the Speakers, including swearing in and the first sting called by the incumbent President.
Photo: Incumbent President of the Republic of Kenya Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.
According to popular constitutional lawyer Mutakha Kangu, President elect, in this case William Ruto, still has no powers at all. William Ruto can therefore not carry out any function or duty of the head of state at the moment, not until he is worn in.
For this reason, it is President Uhuru Kenyatta who is constitutionally mandated to gazette, decide on venue for the first sitting of the new parliament.
In other words, until William Ruto who is the current President elect, is sworn in, the incumbent President will have all the powers to discharge all the duties of the Head of State. One of them being gazetting the first sitting of the new National Assembly and Senate.
Photo: William Ruto addressing the Nation after being declared winner of the 2022 Presidential race.
Ruto’s journey to finally discharge the functions of the Head of State could be delayed owing to petition filed against his victory in Supreme Court by his opponents. His presidential ambition could also be shuttered if the Supreme Court decides to declare his opponent Raila Odinga the winner or if he lost in a re-election just in case his victory is nullified.
William Ruto beat Raila Odinga is a hotly contested Presidential race to become Kenya’s fifth president elect.
At the moment, William Ruto is just a President elect and has no power to execute any presidential duty.
