Learn from US elections, Kalonzo tells IEBC officials

By Peter Ochieng

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has challenged Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials to learn a thing or two, from the just concluded USA presidential polls.

One of the lessons he wants them to learn is how to conduct free and fair elections.

“I believe Kenya, and in particular the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), can learn from the United States about how to conduct a free, fair, and credible election,” said the former Vice President.

He congratulated Republican candidate Donald John Trump, having been declared winner to become USA’s 47th President.

“I extend my congratulations to President-Elect Donald J. Trump on your election as 47th President of the United States of America. Americans have placed their trust in your ideas and leadership, as evidenced by the outcomes of the electoral college and popular vote,” said Musyoka.

He added that over 150 million Americans voted in the historic November 5 election, and their votes were counted, tallied and announced in less than 24 hours.

Trump’s extraordinary comeback makes him only the second US President in history to secure a non-consecutive re-election. His win in Wisconsin put him over the 270-threshold needed to clinch the presidency.

Earlier he had secured swing states in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia. Overall Trump, garnered 276 electoral college votes and 70,959,407 popular votes, beating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris on both who secured 223 electoral college votes and 65,889,459 popular votes.

In his victory speech, Trump vowed not to rest “until we have delivered a strong and prosperous America.”

He promised to deliver on his main agenda 'The American Dream' aiming to restore the country's economy and prioritise American policies ahead of external affairs.

"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president. America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he told his supporters.

He pledged to open US borders to foreign nationals, but maintained that foreigners would only be allowed into the US through legal means.