Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya, Wafula Chebukati, on Monday declared the deputy president, William Ruto, winner of the country’s presidential election.
Ruto polled 50.49 per cent of the total votes cast (7,176,141) to defeat his closest rival, ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who got 48.85 per cent (6,942,930), in a tight race watched by diplomats and other international observers.
But, the deputy chairman and some senior officials of the electoral body disowned the poll result, fuelling fears of violence, like that seen after previous disputed polls, Reuters reported.
Minutes before the chairman of the electoral commission, Wafula Chebukati, announced that Ruto had won the vote, his deputy, Juliana Cherera, told the media at a separate location that she and three other commissioners disowned the results.
“We are not able to take ownership of the results that will be announced, because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election,” Cherera said.
The electoral commission has seven commissioners.
But hailing the electoral commission members as “heroes”, Ruto said, “There is no looking back. We are looking to the future. We need all hands on deck to move forward.”
Ruto, 55, had made Kenya’s class divisions the centrepiece of his campaign to become the country’s fifth president, promising to reward low-income “hustlers” and pouring scorn on Kenya’s political dynasties.
That was a barely veiled jab at his opponent, Odinga, and President Uhuru Kenyatta, son of the nation’s first vice president and president, respectively.
Diplomats and international observers were whisked out of the tallying hall before Chebukati spoke, as scuffles broke out.
Before announcing Ruto as the winner, Chebukati said two commissioners and the electoral commission’s Chief Executive had been injured and were being treated.
The winning candidate must get 50 per cent of votes plus one. About 14 million Kenyans voted, with voter turn-out about 65 per cent as against 78 per cent in 2017.
Odinga did not attend the announcement of the results. (Photo: Tuko)