William Ruto wins Kenya’s presidential election

New York: Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto has been declared the winner of the presidential election, beating his main rival and long-time opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati announced that Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes, or 50.49 percent of the total ballots cast in the August 9 polls ahead of Odinga, also a former Prime Minister, who garnered about 6,942,930 votes, or 48.85 percent, reports Xinhua news agency.

Ruto, 55, will take over from President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has led the country for more than 10 years. Immediately after the announcement of the presidential results, protests broke out in some parts of the country, mainly Odinga’s strongholds in western Kenya, the capital Nairobi and the eastern part of the country.

In his victory speech, Ruto pledged to extend a hand of friendship to political rivals, unite the country and advance shared growth and prosperity.

 

Image courtesy of (Photo courtesy: kvia.com)

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