William Ruto has been elected as the country’s next President in highly tight race.
Ruto won with 50.49% of the vote, narrowly defeating his closest rival Raila Odinga.
Ruto who is the current Deputy President becomes Kenya’s 5th president on his first attempt
Wafula Chebukati,Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson announced the results on Monday evening.
Results are as follow;
Raila Odinga: 48.85% (6,942,930)
William Ruto: 50.49% (7,176,141)
George Wajakoyah: 0.44% (61,969)
David Mwaure: 0.23% (31,907)
Ruto’s win is a big blow for President Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed Odinga.
Odinga’s loss means he has lost against four of Kenya’s five presidents. In 1997 he lost to Arap Moi, in 2007 he lost to Mwai Kibaki, in 2013 and 2017 he lost to Uhuru Kenyatta, now he has lost to Ruto, who was his running mate in 2007.
Ruto, a former teacher who holds a doctorate in plant ecology from the University of Nairobi, has pledged to prioritize Kenya’s economy and “uplift ordinary citizens” as President.
He will come under pressure to provide solutions to Kenya’s pressing economic problems, including growing debt, high food and fuel prices, and mass youth unemployment.
Ruto has a long and varied history in Kenyan politics and was also tried alongside President Kenyatta in 2013 at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands for alleged crimes against humanity following deadly violence in the 2007 elections. However, the charges were later thrown out.