Kenya’s Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has said that at least 20 Heads of State are expected to attend Tuesday’s inauguration of president-elect William Ruto and his deputy-elect Rigathi Gachagua, reported The CGTN Africa.
“We will have all the protocols associated with visiting Heads of States ready by Foreign Affairs and KDF and all people concerned with the arrival of dignitaries,” Kibicho said in a briefing on Saturday.
According to Kibicho, Kenyans will not require any official invites to attend the event, as the stadium will be open to all.
“However, because of controls we will have limited invitations, you can see the dais can only accommodate a certain number of people,” he said adding that there will be limited invitation of 2,500 VIPs at the main dais.
The program is scheduled to start at 7 am. Kenyans will be allowed to enter the grounds from as early as 4.00 am, and expect to be seated by 10.00 am. The ceremony will then begin at 10:30 am, and Kenya’s President-elect will sworn into office between 10 am and 2 pm.
Kibicho said security has also been increased in the area, with over 10,000 police officers manning the stadium on Tuesday.
“We are satisfied, we have no doubt that we will have a very colorful ceremony on Tuesday and we have given it all it takes to make our country proud,” said Kibicho.
Ruto succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has served his constitutionally mandated two five-year terms.
Kenya’s Supreme Court upheld his victory last week after it rejected challenges to the results of the presidential election. Raila Odinga, who came second in the August 9 elections, had filed petition before the court to nullify the election results which he claimed were not fair.
As per the official results, Ruto, 55, won with 50.49% of the vote against his rival Raila Odinga’s 48.85%.
