President-elect William Ruto’s national security status changed immediately after he was declared the winner of the August 9 presidential election.
To start with, the President-elect will from today (Tuesday) start receiving briefings from the respective national security organs.
Both Ruto and Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua security detail was beefed up immediately after they were pronounced election winners by IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati.
According to Kenya’s constitution, the Assumption of Office Committee is mandated to accord the two adequate security.
“Upon the declaration of the final results of a presidential election by the Commission under Article 138 of the Constitution and section 39 of the Elections Act (No. 24 of 2011), the Committee shall ensure that the President-elect and Deputy President-elect are accorded adequate security” reads the Assumption of the Office of President Act.
The Committee should ensure that the President-elect under section 9 receives security briefings from the respective national security organs and any other required information from public officers.
Public officers to provide required information
- The President-elect shall, in consultation with the Committee, carry out such preparations as may be necessary for the purpose of assuming office.
- The President-elect may, in carrying out preparations under subsection (1), request in writing for such information from a public officer as he/she may consider necessary.
- A public officer from whom information is requested under subsection (2) shall provide the information within a reasonable time.
- A public officer who fails to comply with the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.
Swearing in
If no petition is filed, the President-elect should be sworn in on the first Tuesday following the election, or the seventh day following the date on which the court renders a decision declaring the election to be valid if any petition has been filed under Article 140.
The public ceremony which should be held in the capital city in accordance with Article 141 of the Constitution must not be earlier than 10.00 am and not later than 2.00 pm.
In this case, the Assumption of office committee chaired by the head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua is expected to publish, by notice in the Gazette, the date and place for the conduct of the swearing-in ceremony.
The committee which promised to ensure a smooth transition during its inaugural meeting last Friday said it will issue periodic updates on the process.
