Politics

Ruto wins Kenya’s presidential election in tight runoff

Nairobi, Aug 15 (EFE).- Kenya’s deputy president William Ruto won presidential elections with 50.49 percent of the votes, the African country’s electoral commission (IEBC) announced on Monday.

Ruto’s closest rival, former prime minister and opposition leader Raila Odinga obtained 48.85 percent of the votes of the elections held on 9 August.

Lawyers George Wajackoyah and David Mwaure came third and fourth respectively.

“In accordance with the Constitution and the law, chairperson of IEBC hereby declare that Ruto William Samoei has been duly elected as the President of the Republic of Kenya,” said the head of the IEBC Wafula Chebukati said.

Earlier in the day, four IEBC commissioners of the IEBC (made up of seven commissioners and the president) including its vice president, Juliana Cherera, disassociated themselves from the election results, questioning the transparency of the vote counting.

Ruto, 55, was aspiring for the first time to the presidency at the head of the Kenya Kwanza coalition, while Odinga, 77, opted for the fifth time.

If the results are not challenged, Ruto will become the country’s fifth president since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963.

He will replace Uhuru Kenyatta, who is leaving power after completing the second and last five-year term allowed by the Constitution.

The counting of votes was marked by delays and accusations of fraud by politicians and supporters of Ruto and Odinga, although they did not present clear and convincing evidence. EFE

Pa/ta/mp

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