Kenya has been rocked by violent anti-government protests. Opposition leader, Raila Odinga, had called for regular protests every Monday and Thursday, before eventually calling off the anti-government protests. Odinga has repeatedly accused the sitting president, William Ruto, of having stolen last year's election. Mohammed Saleh decodes the violent turmoil that has gripped Kenya.

Kenya descends into political chaos 6 months after election | World at War

The consequences of climate crisis can be seen all across the globe. But, poorer nations who have contributed the least in carbon emissions are worst impacted. @SehgalRahesha tells you how Kenya's President William Ruto urges need for accountability from world polluters.

Kenya's President urges accountability for world polluters

On his first state visit to DRC the Kenyan president, William Ruto has conveyed Nairobi's willingness to fight the rebel groups operating in the east of the country. Watch this report to know more.

Kenyan President Ruto plans to be aggressive with rebel groups in DRC

A Kenyan lawyer facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for bribing and threatening a prosecution witness in a past ICC case involving President William Ruto six years ago was found dead, local media reported on Tuesday.

According to police, 50-year-old Paul Gicheru was found unconscious by his family at his home on Monday night,

&nbsp;“The body was found lying on the back, clean, casually dressed and no saliva or blood on anybody opening,” a police report said, according to AP news agency.

It further noted that “the deceased is a known diabetic and high blood pressure patient.”

Gicheru was first found by his 20-year-old son, who then told his mother that his 50-year-old father “had taken something”.

The police report noted a “froth” coming from his mouth and concluded that he had difficulty in breathing.

The police are yet to find the cause of his death.

Family lawyer John Khaminwa told the reporters that Gicheru was stressed in the hours before his death.

“He was not himself,” Khaminwa said, citing Gicheru's family members.

In February, Gicheru was facing charges to all eight counts of interfering with witnesses in the case against William Ruto, who had been charged with fomenting ethnic violence after Kenya’s 2007&nbsp;election&nbsp;that left more than 1,000 people dead. He had denied bribing prosecution witnesses in the case.

Responding to the news of his death, ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said, “If there is information about the death of an accused, a confirmation of this information should be submitted to the (trial) chamber and then the chamber issues a decision ending the case.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Kenyan lawyer facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for bribing and threatening a prosecution witness in a past ICC case involving President William Ruto six years ago was found dead, local media reported on Tuesday.

A Kenyan lawyer facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for bribing and threatening a prosecution witness in a past ICC case involving President William Ruto six years ago was found dead, local media reported on Tuesday. According to police, 50-year-old Paul Gicheru was found unconscious by his family at his home on Monday night, “The body was found lying on the back, clean, casually dressed and no saliva or blood on anybody opening,” a police report said, according to AP news agency. It further noted that “the deceased is a known diabetic and high blood pressure patient.” Gicheru was first found by his 20-year-old son, who then told his mother that his 50-year-old father “had taken something”. The police report noted a “froth” coming from his mouth and concluded that he had difficulty in breathing. The police are yet to find the cause of his death. Family lawyer John Khaminwa told the reporters that Gicheru was stressed in the hours before his death. “He was not himself,” Khaminwa said, citing Gicheru's family members. In February, Gicheru was facing charges to all eight counts of interfering with witnesses in the case against William Ruto, who had been charged with fomenting ethnic violence after Kenya’s 2007 election that left more than 1,000 people dead. He had denied bribing prosecution witnesses in the case. Responding to the news of his death, ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said, “If there is information about the death of an accused, a confirmation of this information should be submitted to the (trial) chamber and then the chamber issues a decision ending the case.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kenyan lawyer facing bribery charge at ICC found dead

William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya's fifth post-independence president at a pomp-filled ceremony on Tuesday, five weeks after his narrow victory in a bitterly-fought but largely peaceful election.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of people joined regional heads of state at a packed stadium in Nairobi to watch him take the oath of office, with many spectators clad in the bright yellow of Ruto's party, and waving Kenyan flags.&nbsp;

"This moment is a moment like no other," the 55-year-old said in his inauguration speech to raucous cheers. &nbsp;

"Today, I want to thank God, because a village boy has become the president of Kenya." &nbsp;

A notoriously ambitious politician who has been deputy president since 2013, Ruto beat his rival Raila Odinga -- who had the backing of now former president Uhuru Kenyatta -- by less than two percentage points in the August 9 poll.&nbsp;

But the Supreme Court on September 5 unanimously upheld his victory, dismissing his opponents' claims of fraud and mismanagement.&nbsp;

The 55-year-old rags-to-riches businessman, who once sold chickens on the roadside, now faces a daunting task to steer a polarised country gripped by a cost-of-living crisis and punishing drought.&nbsp;

His rise to State House has been closely watched by the international community, which looks to Kenya as a reliable and stable democracy in a turbulent region.&nbsp;

"Dawn of Ruto era," trumpeted the front-page headline in The Standard newspaper, while The Star said: "Time for Ruto." &nbsp;

Several people were injured earlier as crowds tried to force their way into the stadium. Television footage showed dozens of people falling on top of one other in a crush at one entrance gate.&nbsp;

Police had urged Kenyans to watch proceedings from home after the 60,000-seat stadium was filled before sunrise.&nbsp;

'Hand of brotherhood'

Foreign allies and independent observers praised the conduct of the vote, which was largely peaceful and free of the violence that has marred past elections in the country of 50 million people.&nbsp;

Kenyatta, who in a stunning turn of events reached a pact with his longtime rival Odinga in 2018 and banished his deputy Ruto to the sidelines, had promised a smooth transfer of power.&nbsp;

He had pointedly failed to publicly congratulate his successor for several weeks, finally shaking Ruto's hand at a meeting at the presidential residence on Monday.&nbsp;

Ruto has struck a conciliatory tone, extending a "hand of brotherhood" to his rivals and their supporters after the Supreme Court decision.&nbsp;

But Ruto's new deputy Rigathi Gachagua took potshots at Kenyatta during the inauguration ceremony, saying the new administration had inherited a "dilapidated economy".&nbsp;

And Odinga turned down an invitation to attend the event, charging that the election commission did not conduct a "free and fair" poll.&nbsp;

Observers say Ruto faces a tough assignment building goodwill after the divisive political campaign that lasted well over a year and was peppered with acrimony and personal slander.&nbsp;

"This is the time to close ranks, embrace opponents and help forge a united front devoid of cheap political competition," The Standard wrote in an editorial.&nbsp;

Many Kenyans had stayed away from the ballot box, with disillusionment and economic hardship blamed for the low turnout.&nbsp;

Generous send-off

Ruto said Sunday that the East African powerhouse was "in a deep economic hole" and repeated his pledge to ease the cost of living crisis, create jobs and reduce the country's $70 billion debt mountain.&nbsp;

Playing on his humble beginnings in the Rift Valley, the multi-millionaire had cast himself as "hustler in chief" and champion for the downtrodden during his campaign.&nbsp;

Among his ambitious promises was the creation of a 50-billion shilling ($415 million) "hustler fund" to provide loans to small businesses, and a commitment to bring down prices of fuel, grain and fertiliser.&nbsp;

"Given sky-high popular expectations and an economy in dire straits, governing may well prove tougher than campaigning," the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank warned.&nbsp;

Ruto, whose new presidential coat of arms bears his party symbol, a wheelbarrow, will get a salary of about $144,000 a year as well as all the trappings of presidential office.&nbsp;

Ruto's inauguration marks the end of Kenyatta's near decade in power, and one of the rare occasions his powerful family has not been at the apex of Kenyan politics.&nbsp;

Already one of Kenya's wealthiest citizens, he is entitled to a generous send-off under the constitution as he leaves office having served two terms, the maximum allowed. &nbsp;

The 60-year-old will receive a tax-free lump sum of $324,000 and more than $600,000 in allowances every year.&nbsp;

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William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya's fifth post-independence president at a pomp-filled ceremony on Tuesday, five weeks after his narrow victory in a bitterly-fought but largely peaceful election.

William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya's fifth post-independence president at a pomp-filled ceremony on Tuesday, five weeks after his narrow victory in a bitterly-fought but largely peaceful election. Tens of thousands of people joined regional heads of state at a packed stadium in Nairobi to watch him take the oath of office, with many spectators clad in the bright yellow of Ruto's party, and waving Kenyan flags. "This moment is a moment like no other," the 55-year-old said in his inauguration speech to raucous cheers.  "Today, I want to thank God, because a village boy has become the president of Kenya."  A notoriously ambitious politician who has been deputy president since 2013, Ruto beat his rival Raila Odinga -- who had the backing of now former president Uhuru Kenyatta -- by less than two percentage points in the August 9 poll. But the Supreme Court on September 5 unanimously upheld his victory, dismissing his opponents' claims of fraud and mismanagement. The 55-year-old rags-to-riches businessman, who once sold chickens on the roadside, now faces a daunting task to steer a polarised country gripped by a cost-of-living crisis and punishing drought. His rise to State House has been closely watched by the international community, which looks to Kenya as a reliable and stable democracy in a turbulent region. "Dawn of Ruto era," trumpeted the front-page headline in The Standard newspaper, while The Star said: "Time for Ruto."  Several people were injured earlier as crowds tried to force their way into the stadium. Television footage showed dozens of people falling on top of one other in a crush at one entrance gate. Police had urged Kenyans to watch proceedings from home after the 60,000-seat stadium was filled before sunrise. 'Hand of brotherhood' Foreign allies and independent observers praised the conduct of the vote, which was largely peaceful and free of the violence that has marred past elections in the country of 50 million people. Kenyatta, who in a stunning turn of events reached a pact with his longtime rival Odinga in 2018 and banished his deputy Ruto to the sidelines, had promised a smooth transfer of power. He had pointedly failed to publicly congratulate his successor for several weeks, finally shaking Ruto's hand at a meeting at the presidential residence on Monday. Ruto has struck a conciliatory tone, extending a "hand of brotherhood" to his rivals and their supporters after the Supreme Court decision. But Ruto's new deputy Rigathi Gachagua took potshots at Kenyatta during the inauguration ceremony, saying the new administration had inherited a "dilapidated economy". And Odinga turned down an invitation to attend the event, charging that the election commission did not conduct a "free and fair" poll. Observers say Ruto faces a tough assignment building goodwill after the divisive political campaign that lasted well over a year and was peppered with acrimony and personal slander. "This is the time to close ranks, embrace opponents and help forge a united front devoid of cheap political competition," The Standard wrote in an editorial. Many Kenyans had stayed away from the ballot box, with disillusionment and economic hardship blamed for the low turnout. Generous send-off Ruto said Sunday that the East African powerhouse was "in a deep economic hole" and repeated his pledge to ease the cost of living crisis, create jobs and reduce the country's $70 billion debt mountain. Playing on his humble beginnings in the Rift Valley, the multi-millionaire had cast himself as "hustler in chief" and champion for the downtrodden during his campaign. Among his ambitious promises was the creation of a 50-billion shilling ($415 million) "hustler fund" to provide loans to small businesses, and a commitment to bring down prices of fuel, grain and fertiliser. "Given sky-high popular expectations and an economy in dire straits, governing may well prove tougher than campaigning," the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank warned. Ruto, whose new presidential coat of arms bears his party symbol, a wheelbarrow, will get a salary of about $144,000 a year as well as all the trappings of presidential office. Ruto's inauguration marks the end of Kenyatta's near decade in power, and one of the rare occasions his powerful family has not been at the apex of Kenyan politics. Already one of Kenya's wealthiest citizens, he is entitled to a generous send-off under the constitution as he leaves office having served two terms, the maximum allowed.  The 60-year-old will receive a tax-free lump sum of $324,000 and more than $600,000 in allowances every year. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ruto sworn in as Kenya's president after disputed poll

The Supreme Court dismisses Raila Odinga's challenge to the Presidential election results. The Chief Justice rejected all of the arguments of the petitioners. William Ruto is the president-elect of Kenya.

World of Africa | Kenya election: Supreme court rejects Odinga's challenge to Ruto's win

Kenya's Supreme Court upheld the August 9 election of William Ruto as president in an unanimous decision. Chief Justice Martha Koome rejected the petition brought by opposition leader Raila Odinga. What experts and analysts termed the rule of dynasties in Kenya has now ended. Ruto will be sworn in as the country's fifth president on the 13th of September. What kind of leader will this self-proclaimed hustler be and will there be some change in the country's politics and economy? Let's find out in this next report from Nairobi.

World of Africa: Kenya's top court upholds Ruto's victory

Ending weeks of political uncertainty, Kenyan Supreme Court on Monday upheld President-elect William Ruto's victory in the August 9 presidential elections.

Chief Justice Martha Koome said that it was a "unanimous decision".&nbsp;

"The petitions are hereby dismissed, as a consequence we declare the first respondent (Ruto) as president-elect."

Watch |&nbsp;Kenya's Odinga still says he won election, but will respect Supreme court ruling

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According to AFP, the decision dealt challenger Raila Odinga, who claimed there had been election fraud, a blow.

Last month, Odinga petitioned Kenya's highest court, stating he had "enough evidence" to demonstrate that he had, in fact, won the election.

To determine whether any anomalies were significant enough to invalidate the election, as was the case with the presidential election in August 2017 that Odinga also contested, judges have spent the last two weeks poring over boxes of evidence.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-election-result-william-ruto-elected-5th-president-with-5049-of-vote-507171">Kenya election result: William Ruto elected 5th president with 50.49% of vote</a>

The court rejected Odinga's 72-page petition's claim that hackers hacked into the IEBC systems and uploaded tampered result forms.

Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) technology, according to Koome, satisfies the criteria for "integrity, verifiability, security, and transparency."

She dismissed all of the petitioners' assertions, adding that any anomalies "irregularities were not of such magnitude as to affect the final results of the presidential election."

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-defeated-presidential-candidate-odinga-challenges-poll-result-in-supreme-court-509163">Kenya: Defeated presidential candidate Odinga challenges poll result in Supreme Court</a>

Although the polling day went off without incident, the results triggered heated demonstrations in Odinga strongholds, and there are worries that the conflict could incite bloodshed in a nation where post-election discontent has a history of escalating into violence.

However, both candidates had pledged to uphold the court's decision.&nbsp;On September 13, Ruto will be sworn in as Kenya's fifth president.

Since 2002, no Kenyan presidential election result has been undisputed. After the 2007 election, Kenya had its worst electoral violence, during which more than 1,100 people lost their lives in confrontations between opposing tribes.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ending weeks of political uncertainty, Kenyan Supreme Court on Monday upheld President-elect William Ruto's victory in the August 9 presidential elections. Chief Justice Martha Koome said that it was a "unanimous decision".

Ending weeks of political uncertainty, Kenyan Supreme Court on Monday upheld President-elect William Ruto's victory in the August 9 presidential elections. Chief Justice Martha Koome said that it was a "unanimous decision". "The petitions are hereby dismissed, as a consequence we declare the first respondent (Ruto) as president-elect." Watch | Kenya's Odinga still says he won election, but will respect Supreme court ruling According to AFP, the decision dealt challenger Raila Odinga, who claimed there had been election fraud, a blow. Last month, Odinga petitioned Kenya's highest court, stating he had "enough evidence" to demonstrate that he had, in fact, won the election. To determine whether any anomalies were significant enough to invalidate the election, as was the case with the presidential election in August 2017 that Odinga also contested, judges have spent the last two weeks poring over boxes of evidence. Also read | Kenya election result: William Ruto elected 5th president with 50.49% of vote The court rejected Odinga's 72-page petition's claim that hackers hacked into the IEBC systems and uploaded tampered result forms. Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) technology, according to Koome, satisfies the criteria for "integrity, verifiability, security, and transparency." She dismissed all of the petitioners' assertions, adding that any anomalies "irregularities were not of such magnitude as to affect the final results of the presidential election." Also read | Kenya: Defeated presidential candidate Odinga challenges poll result in Supreme Court Although the polling day went off without incident, the results triggered heated demonstrations in Odinga strongholds, and there are worries that the conflict could incite bloodshed in a nation where post-election discontent has a history of escalating into violence. However, both candidates had pledged to uphold the court's decision. On September 13, Ruto will be sworn in as Kenya's fifth president. Since 2002, no Kenyan presidential election result has been undisputed. After the 2007 election, Kenya had its worst electoral violence, during which more than 1,100 people lost their lives in confrontations between opposing tribes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kenya: Political uncertainty ends, Supreme Court upholds William Ruto's presidential election win

Raila Odinga, the leader of the Kenyan opposition, said he will respect the court’s decision even though he still thinks he won the presidential election this month. This is Odinga’s fifth attempt at being president. He blamed previous defeats on rigging, accusations that have twice provoked violent protests in the country.

Odinga’s legal team accused his rival, William Ruto, and his team of hacking the election system to substitute real photographs of polling station result forms, raising Ruto’s vote.

The newly elected president, Ruto, refuted the accusations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-defeated-presidential-candidate-odinga-challenges-poll-result-in-supreme-court-509163">Also read |&nbsp;Kenya: Defeated presidential candidate Odinga challenges poll result in Supreme Court</a>

The Supreme Court must make a decision by September 5. Fears of violence have been sparked by the controversy, similar to polls in 2007 and 2017 where 1,200 people and 100 people died, respectively.

Reuters reported that Odinga said, "If the courts decide otherwise, we will basically respect the ruling of the courts." In a conversation with Reuters, the leader said he should be declared the winner. Odinga declared that the chairman should be replaced.

In addition to this, he will accept and obey the decision of the court. As per Ruto’s legal defense, Odinga’s lawsuit was "full of sound and fury."

In order to precipitate a constitutional crisis and compel a power-sharing arrangement, he charged Odinga with fabricating computer records.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-kenya-on-alert-as-odingas-supporters-spark-violence-post-election-results-507320">Also read |&nbsp;In pics | Kenya on alert as Odinga’s supporters spark violence post-election results</a>

In his court testimony, the chairman of the election commission claimed that the elections were "free, air and credible."

The dissident commissioners have responded, expressing their worries about the counting procedure.

Any turmoil in Kenya has an impact on the surrounding area. Kenya serves as an important transportation hub for countries like Somalia and South Sudan.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Raila Odinga, the leader of the Kenyan opposition, said he will respect the court’s decision even though he still thinks he won the presidential election this month.

Raila Odinga, the leader of the Kenyan opposition, said he will respect the court’s decision even though he still thinks he won the presidential election this month. This is Odinga’s fifth attempt at being president. He blamed previous defeats on rigging, accusations that have twice provoked violent protests in the country. Odinga’s legal team accused his rival, William Ruto, and his team of hacking the election system to substitute real photographs of polling station result forms, raising Ruto’s vote. The newly elected president, Ruto, refuted the accusations. Also read | Kenya: Defeated presidential candidate Odinga challenges poll result in Supreme Court The Supreme Court must make a decision by September 5. Fears of violence have been sparked by the controversy, similar to polls in 2007 and 2017 where 1,200 people and 100 people died, respectively. Reuters reported that Odinga said, "If the courts decide otherwise, we will basically respect the ruling of the courts." In a conversation with Reuters, the leader said he should be declared the winner. Odinga declared that the chairman should be replaced. In addition to this, he will accept and obey the decision of the court. As per Ruto’s legal defense, Odinga’s lawsuit was "full of sound and fury." In order to precipitate a constitutional crisis and compel a power-sharing arrangement, he charged Odinga with fabricating computer records. Also read | In pics | Kenya on alert as Odinga’s supporters spark violence post-election results In his court testimony, the chairman of the election commission claimed that the elections were "free, air and credible." The dissident commissioners have responded, expressing their worries about the counting procedure. Any turmoil in Kenya has an impact on the surrounding area. Kenya serves as an important transportation hub for countries like Somalia and South Sudan. (With inputs from agencies)

Kenya’s Odinga believes he won the elections, waiting for Supreme Court’s decision

Kenya's newly elected President William Ruto said that he is going ahead and forming his own government despite opposition challenges on the legitimacy of the vote.

Kenya's new President William Ruto moves to form government

A day after Kenya's Election Chief declared Deputy President William Ruto as the winner of the Presidential elections, his Presidential rival and the runner-up of the elections Raila Odinga has now come forward. Odinga said that he will challenge the election results by taking all constitutional and legal actions.

Kenya Presidential election: Raila Odinga says poll results not in accordance with Kenya's laws

Kenya's top polling authority declared vice-president William Ruto as the winner after a closely fought election. The results split public opinion with opposition supporters taking to the streets all over the country. What explains this backlash? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Kenya election results trigger protests

Kenya has finally got a new President. Deputy President William Ruto has now been declared the President elect by the Election commission. This marks a triumph for the man who has shaken up Kenyan politics.

Kenya Elections: William Ruto wins Presidency; opposition supporters disrupt poll results

In pics | Kenya on alert as Odinga’s supporters spark violence post-election results

William Ruto was declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential poll, but the outcome sparked a split in the election commission and some violent protests.

Kenya Presidential Election 2022: William Ruto declared the winner in disputed vote outcome

After nearly a week-long vote count, Kenya's electoral commission chief has now declared deputy president William Ruto as the winner of the presidential polls, this followed last minute chaos as four senior election officials distanced themselves from the final results.

Kenya's William Ruto declared President-elect amid dispute

William Ruto was declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election by a razor-thin margin, seeing off a challenge from five-time contender Raila Odinga.&nbsp;

William Samoei Arap Ruto who will be the 5th President of Kenya has previously served as Kenya's Deputy President since 2013.

Ruto, a 55-year-old rags-to-riches businessman, saw the election as a war between common "hustlers" and "dynasties" that had dominated Kenya since its independence from Britain in 1963.

Following the announcement of the results, he pledged to work with "all leaders" in Kenya. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-election-result-william-ruto-elected-5th-president-with-5049-of-vote-507171">Also read | Kenya election result: William Ruto elected 5th president with 50.49% of vote</a>

In the 2013 presidential election, he was elected Deputy President alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta on the Jubilee Alliance platform.

From 1998 to 2013, Ruto served as a Member of Parliament (MP). From August to December 2002, he was Minister of Home Affairs in the Daniel Arap Moi cabinet.

He then served as Minister of Agriculture in the Mwai Kibaki cabinet from 2008 to 2010, and as Minister of Higher Education from April to October 2010.

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<h5>Residents in the sweeping red hills near the western Kenyan town of Eldoret recall William Ruto as a barefoot schoolboy who sold chickens at a roadside booth. Even back then, he exhibited a ferocious brilliance, they recalled, as they celebrated his election to the presidency of his nation on Monday with a mixture of joy and disbelief.</h5>
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Results could be null and void

In Kenya, the presidential election results are expected to be contested in the Supreme Court in the next 21 days.

A run-off may not be a possibility, but a vote recount may be.

If the losing Candidate challenges are successful, Ruto's declaration will be declared NULL and VOID, and a Supreme Court procedure will be begun within 20 to 21 days of the Annulment.

Family

Ruto was born on December 21, 1966 in Sambut village, Kamagut, Uasin Gishu County to Daniel and Sarah Cheruiyot.&nbsp;

Ruto is married to Rachel Ruto and the father of seven children. He is notorious for his enormous riches and has faced several claims of wrongdoing, which he denies.

Educational background

He graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in botany and zoology. He received an MS in 2011 and a PhD from the University of Nairobi in December 2018.

Religious man

Ruto was an active member of the Christian Union during his undergraduate years.

He always attended church services, giving out large amounts of money as well as start-up equipment to hustlers.

Ruto met President Daniel Arap Moi through his church leadership efforts at the University of Nairobi, who would subsequently expose him to Kenya politics, notably during the 1992 general elections.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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William Ruto was declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election by a razor-thin margin, seeing off a challenge from five-time contender Raila Odinga. William Samoei Arap Ruto who will be the 5th President of Kenya has previously served as Kenya's Deputy President since 2013.

William Ruto was declared the winner of Kenya’s presidential election by a razor-thin margin, seeing off a challenge from five-time contender Raila Odinga. William Samoei Arap Ruto who will be the 5th President of Kenya has previously served as Kenya's Deputy President since 2013. Ruto, a 55-year-old rags-to-riches businessman, saw the election as a war between common "hustlers" and "dynasties" that had dominated Kenya since its independence from Britain in 1963. Following the announcement of the results, he pledged to work with "all leaders" in Kenya. Also read | Kenya election result: William Ruto elected 5th president with 50.49% of vote In the 2013 presidential election, he was elected Deputy President alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta on the Jubilee Alliance platform. From 1998 to 2013, Ruto served as a Member of Parliament (MP). From August to December 2002, he was Minister of Home Affairs in the Daniel Arap Moi cabinet. He then served as Minister of Agriculture in the Mwai Kibaki cabinet from 2008 to 2010, and as Minister of Higher Education from April to October 2010. Residents in the sweeping red hills near the western Kenyan town of Eldoret recall William Ruto as a barefoot schoolboy who sold chickens at a roadside booth. Even back then, he exhibited a ferocious brilliance, they recalled, as they celebrated his election to the presidency of his nation on Monday with a mixture of joy and disbelief. × Results could be null and void In Kenya, the presidential election results are expected to be contested in the Supreme Court in the next 21 days. A run-off may not be a possibility, but a vote recount may be. If the losing Candidate challenges are successful, Ruto's declaration will be declared NULL and VOID, and a Supreme Court procedure will be begun within 20 to 21 days of the Annulment. Family Ruto was born on December 21, 1966 in Sambut village, Kamagut, Uasin Gishu County to Daniel and Sarah Cheruiyot. Ruto is married to Rachel Ruto and the father of seven children. He is notorious for his enormous riches and has faced several claims of wrongdoing, which he denies. Educational background He graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in botany and zoology. He received an MS in 2011 and a PhD from the University of Nairobi in December 2018. Religious man Ruto was an active member of the Christian Union during his undergraduate years. He always attended church services, giving out large amounts of money as well as start-up equipment to hustlers. Ruto met President Daniel Arap Moi through his church leadership efforts at the University of Nairobi, who would subsequently expose him to Kenya politics, notably during the 1992 general elections. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Who is William Ruto, the man who could be new president of Kenya?

Kenya's election commission has announced that William Ruto has been elected as the country's fifth president with 50.49% of the vote.

The deputy president won his first election, defeating former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was running for the fifth time. Odinga received 48.5% of the vote.

The announcement came moments after the main count was interrupted as scuffles broke out. 
 
Ruto takes over from departing President Uhuru Kenyatta, who did not endorse his campaign. Kenyatta is nearing the end of his presidency and will step down later this month. 
 
Throughout the campaign, Ruto referred to himself as the "hustler-in-chief," highlighting his modest origins as a chicken vendor who worked his way to the pinnacle of Kenyan politics.

Analysts believed that his competitor Raila Odinga would win, based on his success in opinion surveys and government support.

However, Ruto's populist "man-of-the-people" style, which shunned political dynasties and capitalised on the country's anti-elite attitude, endeared him to voters. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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Kenya's election commission has announced that William Ruto has been elected as the country's fifth president with 50.49% of the vote. The deputy president won his first election, defeating former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was running for the fifth time.

Kenya's election commission has announced that William Ruto has been elected as the country's fifth president with 50.49% of the vote. The deputy president won his first election, defeating former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was running for the fifth time. Odinga received 48.5% of the vote. The announcement came moments after the main count was interrupted as scuffles broke out. Ruto takes over from departing President Uhuru Kenyatta, who did not endorse his campaign. Kenyatta is nearing the end of his presidency and will step down later this month. Throughout the campaign, Ruto referred to himself as the "hustler-in-chief," highlighting his modest origins as a chicken vendor who worked his way to the pinnacle of Kenyan politics. Analysts believed that his competitor Raila Odinga would win, based on his success in opinion surveys and government support. However, Ruto's populist "man-of-the-people" style, which shunned political dynasties and capitalised on the country's anti-elite attitude, endeared him to voters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Kenya election result: William Ruto elected 5th president with 50.49% of vote

According to the latest count, Deputy President William Ruto has a narrow lead over ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The results of Kenya's much-awaited presidential election will be known shortly.

WION Dispatch: William Ruto ahead in Kenya's presidential race

The results of Kenya's much-awaited presidential election will be known shortly. According to the latest count, Deputy President William Ruto has a narrow lead over ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kenya Presidential Election 2022: William Ruto takes slight lead over Raila Odinga

On Friday, the head of&nbsp;<meta charset="utf-8" /><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-rigging-allegation-as-kenyan-media-slow-tally-of-votes-in-tight-presidential-race-506343">Kenya</a>'s electoral commission acknowledged that the process of calculating the presidential election results was going too slowly after national broadcasters abruptly stopped releasing provisional results.

Provisional results indicate a close contest between frontrunners William Ruto and Raila Odinga, but disputes over earlier presidential ballots have been followed by deadly violence, fueling unease.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is under pressure to conduct a fair election and make the results public by August 16 after the Supreme Court invalidated the 2017 presidential election due to irregularities and poor administration by the commission.

Wafula Chebukati, the head of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, accused political party agents of slowing down the exercise by interrogating election workers with pointless questions as the laborious process of verifying and tallying ballots entered its fourth day.

"We have noticed that our pace is slower than it should be. The drill must be finished as soon as possible, according to Chebukati.

"The agents in this exercise cannot conduct themselves as though we are conducting a forensic audit.

"Please don't interrogate the... officers and slow down the process. If we do that, we will not be able to finish this exercise," he warned.

The IEBC has uploaded forms to its website displaying the results from each polling place in an effort to be transparent, making it possible for Kenyan television outlets to calculate their totals.

With around a million votes still to be cast, the broadcasters abruptly halted tallying on Thursday without providing an explanation.

Chebukati urged Kenyans not to be alarmed by the various channels' varying predictions of the results, stating that the IEBC would reveal the results as soon as feasible.

Disinformation about the results has already flooded social media, and civil society organisations and NGOs working for human rights have accused both campaigns of spreading false information.

WATCH |&nbsp;WION Dispatch: Who will Kenya choose as its next President?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-who-will-kenya-choose-as-its-next-president-505243/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A great deal of anxiety

But several Kenyans said they were growing impatient to learn who would be their new leader because the wait might go into the weekend.

Christopher Mesa, a pastor at the&nbsp;Africa Gospel Church in the lakeside city, said there was "a lot of anxiety about the results" among his congregation, and the conflicting results on television only served to confuse people.

"By not showing the results, it calms the people. That was bringing emotions up and down," he said.&nbsp;

The IEBC has received praise from international observers for streamlining its processes compared to prior elections, notably those from the United States, the European Union, and the African Union.

However, voter turnout was lower than in past elections, and numerous Kenyans expressed a desire to move on and return to their regular lives.

Since 2002, no presidential election result in Kenya has been uncontested, and the conflicts have in the past resulted in bloodshed due to either ethnic confrontations or police violence.

On Tuesday, Kenyans cast their ballots in six different elections, electing a new president as well as senators, governors, legislators, women representatives, and over 1,500 county leaders.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Friday, the head of Kenya's electoral commission acknowledged that the process of calculating the presidential election results was going too slowly after national broadcasters abruptly stopped releasing provisional results.

On Friday, the head of Kenya's electoral commission acknowledged that the process of calculating the presidential election results was going too slowly after national broadcasters abruptly stopped releasing provisional results. Provisional results indicate a close contest between frontrunners William Ruto and Raila Odinga, but disputes over earlier presidential ballots have been followed by deadly violence, fueling unease. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is under pressure to conduct a fair election and make the results public by August 16 after the Supreme Court invalidated the 2017 presidential election due to irregularities and poor administration by the commission. Wafula Chebukati, the head of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, accused political party agents of slowing down the exercise by interrogating election workers with pointless questions as the laborious process of verifying and tallying ballots entered its fourth day. "We have noticed that our pace is slower than it should be. The drill must be finished as soon as possible, according to Chebukati. "The agents in this exercise cannot conduct themselves as though we are conducting a forensic audit. "Please don't interrogate the... officers and slow down the process. If we do that, we will not be able to finish this exercise," he warned. The IEBC has uploaded forms to its website displaying the results from each polling place in an effort to be transparent, making it possible for Kenyan television outlets to calculate their totals. With around a million votes still to be cast, the broadcasters abruptly halted tallying on Thursday without providing an explanation. Chebukati urged Kenyans not to be alarmed by the various channels' varying predictions of the results, stating that the IEBC would reveal the results as soon as feasible. Disinformation about the results has already flooded social media, and civil society organisations and NGOs working for human rights have accused both campaigns of spreading false information. WATCH | WION Dispatch: Who will Kenya choose as its next President? A great deal of anxiety But several Kenyans said they were growing impatient to learn who would be their new leader because the wait might go into the weekend. Christopher Mesa, a pastor at the Africa Gospel Church in the lakeside city, said there was "a lot of anxiety about the results" among his congregation, and the conflicting results on television only served to confuse people. "By not showing the results, it calms the people. That was bringing emotions up and down," he said. The IEBC has received praise from international observers for streamlining its processes compared to prior elections, notably those from the United States, the European Union, and the African Union. However, voter turnout was lower than in past elections, and numerous Kenyans expressed a desire to move on and return to their regular lives. Since 2002, no presidential election result in Kenya has been uncontested, and the conflicts have in the past resulted in bloodshed due to either ethnic confrontations or police violence. On Tuesday, Kenyans cast their ballots in six different elections, electing a new president as well as senators, governors, legislators, women representatives, and over 1,500 county leaders. (With inputs from agencies)

A tense Kenya awaits results of a crucial election

Kenyan's are waiting eagerly as the counting for the Presidential elections is underway. Preliminary results show tight race between Raila Odinga and William Ruto. WION in an interview with Leon Ssenyahge, correspondant from Kampala, Uganda.

Counting underway in Kenya elections

Deputy President William Ruto took an early lead in the race to become Kenya’s next president, as the authorities continue counting ballots after Tuesday’s election.

Vote counting underway in Kenya after peaceful Presidential polls

Kenya is gearing up for the Presidential election in the country. William Ruto and Raila Odinga are frontrunners in the race. The race is close and could go to a runoff for the first time.

Kenya prepares for Presidential election: Why are young Kenyans shunning poll hype?

Kenyans are voting Tuesday in crucial elections as outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to hand over power to a new leader. The frontrunners for president are ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga and current Deputy President William Ruto.

WION Dispatch: Who will Kenya choose as its next President?

Kenyan Finance Minister Henry Rotich was arrested on Monday on suspicion of corruption related to the construction of two dams. Despite Kenya's notorious graft, it is unprecedented for a sitting minister to be arrested for corruption.

Charges against Rotich, announced on Monday, stemming from a police investigation into the misuse of funds in a dam project overseen by the Italian construction company CMC Di Ravenna.

Rotich denied any wrongdoing in a large newspaper advertisement in March. The company has also denied any wrongdoing.

Rotich and his co-accused face eight charges, ranging from conspiring to defraud and financial misconduct, Noordin Haji, the director of public prosecutions, said. The minister and other officials will have to resign immediately, he said.

Rotich was arrested shortly after the charges were announced, George Kinoti, the head of the Police Directorate of Criminal Investigations, told Reuters in a text message.

The minister will be charged along with 27 other people, including Italian Paolo Porcelli, the director of CMC di Ravenna; and Rotich's number two at the ministry, Kamau Thugge, the principal secretary.

"They broke the law on public finance management under the guise of carrying out legitimate commercial transactions, colossal amounts were unjustifiably and illegally paid out through a well-choreographed scheme by government officers in collusion with private individuals and institutions," Haji told a news conference.

The two dams were budgeted to cost 46 billion shillings ($446 million), he said, but the treasury borrowed far more.

“The national treasury negotiated a commercial facility increasing the amount to approximately 63 billion shillings - which is 17 billion more than necessary or required, payable on a timely basis without regard to a performance or works," he said.

Kenyan prosecutors have requested help from British and Italian authorities, Kinoti said, and more charges could result.

POLITICAL DIMENSIONS

Market reaction to the news was relatively muted, with little change in the shilling. Kenya's dollar bonds maturing in 2028, 2032 and 2048 slipped around 0.5 cents in the dollar, according to data by Tradeweb.

However, Rotich's indictment will send shockwaves through the political elite, who are accustomed to graft scandals resulting in little official action.

His arrest may also be seen as further evidence of a growing distance between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.

Rotich was appointed at Ruto's request. Ruto has made clear that he expects to receive the ruling coalition's nomination for the presidency in 2022, despite objections from some in Kenyatta's camp. Kenyatta will have served two terms and be ineligible to run again.

Earlier this year, Rotich's questioning by police provoked an angry reaction among politicians from Ruto and Rotich's powerful Kalenjin ethnic group. Their home area saw some of the worst violence after the disputed 2007 elections, in which 1,200 people died.

Ruto's allies played down the charges.

"There is nothing to worry about. Relax," Kipchumba Murkomen, the Senate majority leader and a Ruto ally, told reporters.

Ruto's supporters have repeatedly accused police and prosecutors of trying to derail his presidential ambitions, said Ngunjiri Wambugu, who is opposed to Ruto's candidacy.

"There was a lot of claims especially from the Ruto wing of (the ruling coalition) Jubilee that corruption was being weaponised against them. And there was a lot of vicious attacks," he told Reuters.

Haji closed his press conference with a pointed warning against politicians using the case to score points.

"Corruption always fights back," he said. "There may be elements who may seek to exploit these indictments to instigate social unrest."

MANY CHARGED, FEW CONVICTED

Critics accused Kenyatta of failing to deal with corruption during his first term, despite his promises to do so when he was first elected in 2013. Now more people are being charged, but successful prosecutions are rare.

Hundreds of senior government officials and business people are already facing various charges related to corruption, including the chairman of the National Land Commission, the managing director of the Kenya Railways Corporation, the deputy chief justice, the CEO of Kenya Power and the head of Kenya Pipeline Company.

None of the cases has resulted in a successful prosecution.

Auditor General Edward Ouko has said his detailed reports on corruption are often ignored. Corrupt judges interfere with cases and the government's anti-corruption watchdog built cases that were too weak to prosecute, Haji said last year.

Rotich's arrest was a "significant" step on a very long road, said Samuel Kimeu, the head of Kenya's chapter of Transparency International.&nbsp;

"I would not be celebrating arrests. We need to see people in jail and we need to see what has been stolen recovered", he added.

Kenyan Finance Minister Henry Rotich was arrested on Monday on suspicion of corruption related to the construction of two dams. Despite Kenya's notorious graft, it is unprecedented for a sitting minister to be arrested for corruption.

Kenyan Finance Minister Henry Rotich was arrested on Monday on suspicion of corruption related to the construction of two dams. Despite Kenya's notorious graft, it is unprecedented for a sitting minister to be arrested for corruption. Charges against Rotich, announced on Monday, stemming from a police investigation into the misuse of funds in a dam project overseen by the Italian construction company CMC Di Ravenna. Rotich denied any wrongdoing in a large newspaper advertisement in March. The company has also denied any wrongdoing. Rotich and his co-accused face eight charges, ranging from conspiring to defraud and financial misconduct, Noordin Haji, the director of public prosecutions, said. The minister and other officials will have to resign immediately, he said. Rotich was arrested shortly after the charges were announced, George Kinoti, the head of the Police Directorate of Criminal Investigations, told Reuters in a text message. The minister will be charged along with 27 other people, including Italian Paolo Porcelli, the director of CMC di Ravenna; and Rotich's number two at the ministry, Kamau Thugge, the principal secretary. "They broke the law on public finance management under the guise of carrying out legitimate commercial transactions, colossal amounts were unjustifiably and illegally paid out through a well-choreographed scheme by government officers in collusion with private individuals and institutions," Haji told a news conference. The two dams were budgeted to cost 46 billion shillings ($446 million), he said, but the treasury borrowed far more. “The national treasury negotiated a commercial facility increasing the amount to approximately 63 billion shillings - which is 17 billion more than necessary or required, payable on a timely basis without regard to a performance or works," he said. Kenyan prosecutors have requested help from British and Italian authorities, Kinoti said, and more charges could result. POLITICAL DIMENSIONS Market reaction to the news was relatively muted, with little change in the shilling. Kenya's dollar bonds maturing in 2028, 2032 and 2048 slipped around 0.5 cents in the dollar, according to data by Tradeweb. However, Rotich's indictment will send shockwaves through the political elite, who are accustomed to graft scandals resulting in little official action. His arrest may also be seen as further evidence of a growing distance between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. Rotich was appointed at Ruto's request. Ruto has made clear that he expects to receive the ruling coalition's nomination for the presidency in 2022, despite objections from some in Kenyatta's camp. Kenyatta will have served two terms and be ineligible to run again. Earlier this year, Rotich's questioning by police provoked an angry reaction among politicians from Ruto and Rotich's powerful Kalenjin ethnic group. Their home area saw some of the worst violence after the disputed 2007 elections, in which 1,200 people died. Ruto's allies played down the charges. "There is nothing to worry about. Relax," Kipchumba Murkomen, the Senate majority leader and a Ruto ally, told reporters. Ruto's supporters have repeatedly accused police and prosecutors of trying to derail his presidential ambitions, said Ngunjiri Wambugu, who is opposed to Ruto's candidacy. "There was a lot of claims especially from the Ruto wing of (the ruling coalition) Jubilee that corruption was being weaponised against them. And there was a lot of vicious attacks," he told Reuters. Haji closed his press conference with a pointed warning against politicians using the case to score points. "Corruption always fights back," he said. "There may be elements who may seek to exploit these indictments to instigate social unrest." MANY CHARGED, FEW CONVICTED Critics accused Kenyatta of failing to deal with corruption during his first term, despite his promises to do so when he was first elected in 2013. Now more people are being charged, but successful prosecutions are rare. Hundreds of senior government officials and business people are already facing various charges related to corruption, including the chairman of the National Land Commission, the managing director of the Kenya Railways Corporation, the deputy chief justice, the CEO of Kenya Power and the head of Kenya Pipeline Company. None of the cases has resulted in a successful prosecution. Auditor General Edward Ouko has said his detailed reports on corruption are often ignored. Corrupt judges interfere with cases and the government's anti-corruption watchdog built cases that were too weak to prosecute, Haji said last year. Rotich's arrest was a "significant" step on a very long road, said Samuel Kimeu, the head of Kenya's chapter of Transparency International. "I would not be celebrating arrests. We need to see people in jail and we need to see what has been stolen recovered", he added.

Kenyan finance minister arrested on graft charges

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