William Ruto has been elected as the country’s fifth president with 50.49% of the vote, Kenya’s election commission announced Monday.
Ruto, 55, who served as the deputy president in Kenya for the past 10 years, won his first election, defeating former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was running for the fifth time. Odinga received 48.85% of the vote.
Announcing the election results, Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissioners (IEBC) head Wafula Chebukati said Ruto won 7,176,141 votes, 50.49% of the total vote, while his main opponent, 77-year-old former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had 48.85% (6,942,930 votes).
“I will work for all Kenyans. We will go out of our way to deliver on our pledges. We will serve all equally. This will be your government; the government of the people of Kenya,” Ruto said in a tweet following his victory.
He ran in the election with the Kenya Kwanza coalition and said earlier that his government will focus on transforming the country’s economy to achieve durable growth while maintaining macroeconomic stability and empowering the people at the bottom of the pyramid.
Earlier on Monday, four out of seven commissioners from IEBC led by Vice-chairman Juliana Cherera disowned the results of the elections.
Two other electoral commissioners were injured during a scuffle that happened at Bomas of Kenya, where the election results were announced.
(With inputs from agencies)
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