Deputy President of Kenya, William Ruto has been declared winner of the Kenyan presidential election days after Kenyans had been on the tenterhooks, awaiting the official announcement of results of last week’s ballots across the East African country.
Announcing the results, the Chairman of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati said Ruto had won almost 7.18 million votes (50.49 percent) against 6.94 million (48.85 percent) for his rival Raila Odinga in the closely-fought presidential election.
The declaration of Ruto as winner, however, comes as four IEBC Commissioners have disowned the results at another press conference in Nairobi.
“We are not at Bomas because we cannot take ownership of the results that are going to be announced,” Ms. Juliana Cherera, one of IEBC Commissioners protesting the results had said earlier today.
In his victory speech monitored by The New Diplomat, on international TV networks, Kenya’s president-elect William Ruto vowed to work with “all leaders” as he was declared winner of the tight poll, attempting to ease tensions after the outcome sparked a split in the election commission and fears of violence.
“There is no room for vengeance,” Ruto said, adding, “I am acutely aware that our country is at a stage where we need all hands on deck.”
