Kenya: Ruto declared presidential race winner after chaos over vote count

Nairobi, The Gulf Observer: Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto was able to hold on to a lead over longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga. The announcement followed chaotic scenes amid disagreement among election officials.

Kenya’s electoral commission chair on Monday announced that Deputy President William Ruto won the tight presidential race.

The results were called just minutes after four out of seven election officials said that they rejected the imminent, highly anticipated announcement.

“We cannot take ownership of the result that will be announced,” Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vice chair Juliana Cherera told reporters, saying the process was “opaque.”

At the same time, Ruto declared victory, stating that “there are no losers. The people of Kenya have won because we raised the political bar.”