Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga says he will not be attending William Ruto’s inauguration as the 5th president of Kenya slated for Tuesday.

In a statement, Raila confirmed that President-Elect Ruto had written him a letter and called to invite him to his big day at Kasarani Stadium but he had turned it down with reasons.

“This evening, I received a letter and a telephone call from H.E Dr. William Ruto inviting me to his inauguration set for tomorrow, September 13, 2022,” Raila said in the statement.

He went on: “I regret however that I will not be available for the inauguration because I am out of the country and I also have other serious concerns.”


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According to the former Prime Minister, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not conduct a free and fair General Election on August 9.

“First, I believe that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the body in charge of our elections, did not conduct a free and fair election,” he said.

He also raised issue with the judgment issued by the seven Supreme Court judges against his favour after he legally challenged IEBC’s declaration of his rival Ruto as President-Elect.


“Secondly, I believe that the ruling of the Supreme Court was not based on the facts and the law, even though we accepted it. For these reasons, the outcome of the election remains indeterminate,” Raila went on in the statement.

Raila says he will reveal his coalition’s next course of action on his return from his travel abroad but he did not reveal which country he had silently travelled to.

“Once I return to the country, I will, jointly with Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leaders, announce our next steps as we seek to deepen and strengthen our democracy.

“We can only do so if we reform and transform the key institutions that are charged with protecting and advancing our democracy.”

Lastly, the ODM supremo thanked his supporters across the country who backed his fifth failed attempt at becoming the Kenyan Head of State.

“In the meantime, I applaud and thank our supporters and Kenyans who came out in large numbers to vote for us on August 9th, 2022,” he concluded.