In Kenya’s presidential election held on August 9, the winner was determined. William Ruto, who received 50.49 percent of the votes, became the 5th President of Kenya.
In A Statement Made By The Kenya Election Commission, it was announced that William Ruto, who has been vice- President since 2013, became the country’s fifth president by receiving 50.49 percent of the votes. Ruto’s left-leaning rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga, received 48.85 percent of the vote.
4 MEMBERS OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION DID NOT APPROVE THE ELECTION RESULTS
4 out of 7 members of the Kenya Election Commission refused to confirm the election results, saying the election results were “incomprehensible”. “We cannot take ownership of the outcome to be announced because this final phase of the general election is not transparent,” Election Commission Vice President Juliana Cherera said in a statement.
Odinga’s party representative previously claimed there were “irregularities” and “mismanagement” in the election.
“IT WAS NOT AN EASY JOURNEY”
Wafula Chebukati, Chairman of the Election Commission, stated that he did his duty despite the threats and said, “I took an oath to serve this country and I did my duty according to the constitution and the laws of the country. We have walked the journey of enabling Kenyans to make a fair and credible election. It has not been an easy journey. Currently, 2 commissioners are injured,” he said.
“NO ROOM FOR REVENGE”
In his speech, the new President Ruto thanked the Election Commission. Stating that Chebukati is a “hero”, Ruto said, “A wonderful evening, sovereignty belongs to the people of Kenya. I will run a transparent, open and democratic government. “I want to promise all Kenyan people that this will be their government no matter who they vote for,” he said.
Ruto said he wanted his country to focus on the future. “We must work together for a functioning, democratic and prosperous Kenya.”
Ruto will take over from President Uhuru Kenyatta, who fills the two-term limit and supports Odinga in the elections. More than 1,200 people lost their lives in the 2007 elections and more than 100 people in the 2017 elections due to the violence that broke out in Kenya, where there are approximately 22 million voters.