A scuffle broke out at Kenya’s election results centre in Nairobi amid suspicions of vote manipulation and a delayed declaration. William Ruto was pronounced the winner.
Four of seven election commissioners indicated they couldn’t recognise the results or participate in the announcement, angering Raila Odinga’s supporters.
Chairs flew and blows were hurled when a Raila Odinga supporter attempted to stop the electoral commission’s head from speaking.
Ruto arrived at the national tallying centre at 1pm local time for the announcement, but Odinga didn’t.
His party’s main election agent said he wouldn’t invite Mr. Odinga to attend since his team couldn’t verify certain results.
Juliana Cherera, deputy chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), said the procedure was ‘opaque’
‘We’ll make a complete statement… and again, we encourage calm. Rule of law will triumph in court, she declared.
Mr. Odinga’s party agent claimed poll ‘irregularities’ and’mismanagement’
William Ruto was Kenya’s vice president for 10 years before running for president. He parted out with Uhuru Kenyatta, who endorsed Mr. Odinga.
Diplomats and foreign observers were removed from the tallying hall as the electoral commission chairman prepared to announce the presidential results.
Two election commissioners were hurt, said commission head Wafula Chebukati.
Ruto won by 50.49 percent of the vote to Odinga’s 48.85 percent, four hours later than projected.
If no candidate received 50% of the vote, a run-off would have been called, giving Mr. Ruto the minimum he needed to win.
Ruto acknowledged his razor-thin victory margin and the divided Kenyan electorate in his address.
He promises a transparent, open, democratic administration.
‘I pledge all Kenyans, whichever they voted, that this will be their administration.
I want to convince opponents there’s no space for retribution. I know we need everyone’s help to bring our nation forward.’
Despite three members saying they couldn’t check the results, he congratulated the electoral commission.
The announcement of Ruto’s win sparked unrest and riots among Odinga supporters, who torched tyres and chanted “No Raila, no peace.”
Kenya has a history of post-election violence, and sluggish vote counting has fueled suspicions the election would be challenged, leading to horrific scenes like those in 2007 and 2017.
Odinga has seven days to contest Ruto’s win in court.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he had ‘no doubt he would serve his country, his people, and our continent with distinction.’