Opposition Leaders Dispute Election Results in Kenya
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated Saturday the people of Kenya for their peaceful participation in the presidential elections.
He stressed the importance of dialogue to defuse tensions, called on the political leaders to send clear messages to their supporters urging them to refrain from violence in the wake of the polls.
Opposition leaders have claimed that Tuesday’s election was not fair while the election commission on Friday declared President Uhuru Kenyatta the winner.
Raila Odinga, a Kenyan opposition leader, on Sunday refused to accept defeat and called for a strike in support of his claim to the presidency.
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A statement issued by UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the Secretary-General has taken note of the results of the presidential election in Kenya, and of the announcement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Uhuru Kenyatta as President-elect.
“He calls on those political leaders disputing the elections results to address election-related disputes through the relevant constitutionally mandated institutions,” said the Spokesman.
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He added that Mr. Guterres also called on the political leaders to send clear messages to their supporters urging them to refrain from violence.
According to the statement, the UN, in close collaboration with the African Union and other multilateral and bilateral partners, is fully engaged with Kenya’s political leadership and relevant stakeholders to facilitate the successful conclusion of the electoral process.
