Business in Kenya’s capital Nairobi remains low after the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the just concluded presidential elections.
Supreme Court has ruled that William Ruto was properly elected president, dismissing several petitions seeking to annul the 9 August election result.
Police have blocked several roads leading to the city centre and the Milimani Law Courts, where the Supreme Court justices are sitting.
Streets remained largely deserted with some shops still closed by mid-morning as the National Police Service told the public to stay away from the premises where the court is sitting. The police have also put regional police commanders in selected cities on high alert for any eventualities, “whatever the outcome of the court process will be,” according to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Noor Garbow.
Reports from Nakuru city show a rising shortage of foodstuff since Sunday as delivery trucks from upcountry to the markets were relatively fewer than usual. The media in the Nakuru region say traders have decided to wait until the political situation is more certain, hoping that this would be soon after the court ruling.
The President-elect, William Ruto has called for peace, adding that he will respect any outcome of the petition by his rival, Raila Odinga and others, “because we are a country that adheres to the rule of law.” Odinga’s running mate Martha Karua was quoted by the Nation as saying that they also want peace.
“When the verdict is out, we all respect that. We want to maintain peace but for this to be achieved there must be justice because peace without justice is not sustainable,” she said. The local media also reported that bus terminals were almost deserted and without the long queues that usually characterize them, a sign that many Kenyans decided to stay home for the day.
Important trade talks between Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Morocco which were scheduled for today have been called off until certainty returns, according to the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber’s Mombasa Chapter Chairman Ramadhan Mustafa said there are a lot of pending trade talks between the three countries, but that the MOUs cannot be completed for now.
The police deployment has also seen the number of commuter minibuses on various roads, including those that are not under blockade, drop significantly. The judgment by Chief Justice Martha Koome, her deputy Philomena Mwilu and justices Smokin Wanjala, William Ouko, Mohammed Ibrahim, Njoki Ndung’u, and Isaac Lenaola uphold the election of Ruto.
Reports also claim that many people left the major cities for their home districts on Friday and have not returned.
-URN
