William Ruto named President elect of Kenya as Electoral Commissioners disown results

NAIROBI, Kenya

The Chairman of divided Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Wafula Chebukati, has declared William Ruto duly elected fifth President of Kenya at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 15, 2022 at 6:03PM.

Chebukati whose four of his commissioners disown the tallying process and results said Ruto had fulfilled the constitutional requirements after garnering 7,176,141 votes, representing 50.49 per cent of the total votes cast and he achieved the minimum number of 39 counties at 25%.

“In accordance with the Constitution and the law, chairperson of IEBC I hereby declare that Ruto William Samoei has been duly elected as the President of the Republic of Kenya under the provision of Article 138 of the Constitution of the Presidential election held on August 9, 2022," said he said.

The second candidate, Raila Odinga got 6,942,930 votes equivalent to 48.85%. 

Chebukati presented the certificate of presidential results to Ruto to wild cheers from his supporters.

Ruto was accompanied by deputy president-elect Rigathi Gachagua and his wife Rachel Ruto, who is the First Lady designate.

There was drama before Ruto was declared the winner as Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga's chief agent, Saitabao Ole Kanchuri, intimated that the systems used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to tally the results of the presidential contest were compromised ahead of the official announcement by the electoral body.

Earlier, four out of the seven commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) disowned the results of the August 9^th presidential election.

Addressing the media from a Nairobi hotel on Monday, the four commissioners led by IEBC Vice Chair, Juliana Cherera said the last phase of the electoral process which is verification of results was not transparent.

“We have conducted the 2022 General Election in the most effective and efficient manner. We have ensured that we have improved the standards and consistently communicated what is happening. We have partnered with all stakeholders and we say it for a fact that as a commission we have done a good job but some things need to be put out there.” said Cherera.

IEBC Vice Chair, Juliana Cherera

She added: “As you can see, the four of us we are here and not at Bomas where the result is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of how this phase has been handled. We therefore cannot take ownership on the result that is going to be announced.”

The commissioners urged Kenyans to remain peaceful and allow the rule of law to prevail.

“…we have an open door that people can go to court and because of the same we urge Kenyans to be peaceful because the rule of the law is going to prevail,” she said.

The four commissioners include Cherera, Irene Masit, Justus Nyang'anya, Francis Wanderi. - Africa