The international community has celebrated William Ruto’s victory in Kenya’s presidential election despite a major controversy over the result.
Mr. Ruto narrowly defeated his opponent, Raila Odinga, with 50.5% of the vote.
Due to scuffles at the results center and suspicions of vote-rigging by Mr. Odinga’s team, the announcement was delayed.
He has not yet commented, but a supporter told me that Mr. Odinga does not find the outcome “at all acceptable.”
Salim Lone stated, “It lacks credibility because four of the seven [election] commissioners acknowledged they did not sign the proclamation that Mr. Ruto was constitutionally elected.”
He was referring to the fact that the commissioners had refused to certify the presidential election result, claiming that how it had been conducted was “obscure.” They provided no additional information on Monday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who supported Mr. Odinga to succeed him after finishing two terms, has not been seen in public or made any statements since August 9th, the day of the election.
After a mixture of jubilation and violent protests, the majority of the nation has returned to peace since the election results were announced on Monday evening.
In the Rift Valley city of Eldoret, Mr. Ruto’s hometown, thousands of citizens broke into song and dancing. In Mr. Odinga’s political heartland in the western city of Kisumu, though, residents burned tires and erected barricades to protest the loss.
In Kisumu, most shops remain closed.
In his victory address, Mr. Ruto called for national unity, stating that he wished to be a president for everyone, and urged the nation to focus on the future.
I wish to reassure people who have committed several offenses against us that they have nothing to fear. There will be no retribution. We lack the luxury of looking back “he added.
Mr. Ruto disclosed during a press conference held after he was proclaimed the winner that he had spoken with Mr. Odinga earlier on Monday.
He told reporters, “I phoned my opponent and had a chat with him, and we decided that regardless of the outcome of this election, we should have a conversation.”
He also praised the chairman of the electoral commission, Wafula Chebukati, for organizing an honest election.
Mr. Chebukati stated that he fulfilled his obligations despite getting threats.
This was the first time that 55-year-old Mr. Ruto has ran for president. He served as vice president for nine years, but President Kenyatta refused to endorse him after falling out with him.
The 77-year-old former prime minister ran for president for the fifth time and received 48.8% of the vote.
Mr. Ruto has portrayed the election as a contest between “hustlers” (poor Kenyans) and “dynasties” (powerful families such as the Kenyatta’s and Odinga’s, who have been major players in the country’s politics since independence)
In contrast to previous elections, the campaigns were dominated by concerns such as lowering the cost of living, repairing the economy, and combating corruption. There was not the same level of ethnic voter mobilization as in past elections.
Analysts predict Mr. Odinga will certainly contest the outcome.
In 2017, the Kenyan Supreme Court nullified the previous election and ordered a re-run; in a few weeks, it may have to make another significant decision.
