Deputy President William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election amid dramatic scenes.
Kenya’s election body on August 15, 2022, declared William Ruto the winner of the country’s close-fought presidential election, despite several commissioners rejecting the results.
The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr Odinga’s campaign.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati said Ruto had won almost 7.18 million votes (50.49 percent) in the August 9 vote, against 6.94 million (48.85 percent) for his rival Raila Odinga.
“We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election,” said Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“We are going to give a comprehensive statement… and again we urge Kenyans to keep calm,” she said.
Ruto is a 55-year-old rags-to-riches businessman who had characterised the vote as a battle between ordinary “hustlers” and “dynasties” who had ruled Kenya since independence from Britain in 1963.