China hopes for post-election Kenyan unity, development

BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry on Monday expressed the country's hope that Kenyans can join hands for national stability and development following their recent presidential election.

Hong Lei made the remarks in response to a question on a ruling on Saturday by Kenya's Supreme Court that upheld Uhuru Kenyatta as the duly elected fourth president of Kenya.

China "has noticed" the ruling, Hong told a daily press briefing.

"China is willing to enhance cooperation with the new Kenyan government so as to bring bilateral friendly ties to a higher level and benefit the two peoples," he said.

The Supreme Court's judgment paved the way for Kenyatta's swearing-in ceremony, set for April 9 in Nairobi, after which he will take the top job in East Africa's biggest economy.

Kenyatta defeated rival presidential candidate Raila Odinga by winning 50.07 percent of the vote compared to Odinga's 43.28, but only narrowly avoided a runoff by just edging above the 50-percent threshold.

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