Published on : 15/08/2022 – 17:22Modified : 15/08/2022 – 17:24
The chairman of the Kenyan Electoral Commission, Wafula Chebukati, declared William Ruto the winner of the presidential election with 50.49% of the vote, this Monday August 15 in Nairobi, despite the rejection of the results by four of the seven members of the body that he directs, including his vice-president who took the floor.
After six days of waiting for the results, is this the beginning of a political crisis? With just over seven million votes, the outgoing vice-president of Kenya, William Ruto, beat his opponent Raila Odinga by 233,211 votes, a historic figure in the opposition who had received the support of the outgoing head of state. , but which won only 48.85% of the vote, according to the president of the Electoral Commission.
The ambitious Mr. Ruto, 55, thus becomes, on paper, the first Kalenjin to be elected to power for twenty years, succeeding two presidents from the Kikuyu community, including the outgoing Mr. Kenyatta. He had been campaigning for several years, as he seemed sidelined by an unexpected alliance between his president and the latter’s historical opponent.
Freshly announced winner, William Ruto promised, in a speech, to work with “ all leaders “politics of Kenya, in a country” transparent, open and democratic ». « There’s no room for revenge “, he added, declaring himself” fully conscious “that the country” is at a stage where we need everyone on deck ».
In that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.” — Isaiah 12:4 pic.twitter.com/MI7tfxrsji
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) August 15, 2022
►To re-read: In Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta formalizes his support for Raila Odinga
However, these results were rejected, shortly before their actual announcement, by a majority of the members of the said Electoral Commission – four out of seven commissioners -, including Vice-President Juliana Cherera, who said, from a hotel in Nairobi, that she might not ” take responsibility for the results that will be announced “, because of the “ opacity of the process “, while calling on Kenyans to “ calm ».
Juliana Cherera, Vice President of the Electoral Commission (IEBC)
People can go to court and for this reason we call on Kenyans to be peaceful because the rule of law will prevail.
A country less politically stable than it seems
The presidential election took place on August 9, generally calm, without Uhuru Kenyatta, in power since 2013 and who did not have the right to run for a third term. If he succeeds him well, his former running mate William Samoei Ruto will become the fifth head of state. Since 2002, all Kenyan presidential elections have been contested, in the streets or in court. In the past, post-election violence has sometimes been the subject of bloodshed.
From William Ruto’s main campaign promises : lowering the cost of food in the face of galloping inflation. Another promise of the former vice-president: to make employment, especially for young people, a priority. ” We will develop our textile industry, copper, wood, to create enough job opportunities he told Nyeri earlier this month.
Earlier on Monday, the President of the Electoral Commission had already tried to make his announcement for the first time, but had been prevented from doing so, which had led to scuffles live on television on the official platform of the results compilation centers . And this, reports our correspondent in the Kenyan capital, Florence Moricewhile the choir that had been waiting for the public since the morning continued to sing in an attempt to appease the spirits.
► To read also: William Ruto, the “resourceful” billionaire
