The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati on Monday 15th August declared William Ruto as the 5th President of Kenya. The much awaited announcement came 5 days after Kenyans went to the polls on 9th August.
William Ruto attained the 50 per cent plus one threshold (50.49%) required following a tightly contested two horse race. Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes while opposition opponent, Raila Odinga managed 6,942,930 votes.
Four candidates met the requisite constitutional and statutory requirements, and were therefore successful in their bid to contest as candidates for president. The candidates were Raila Odinga (Azimio Coalition Political Party), William Ruto (United Democratic Alliance-UDA), David Mwaure Waihiga (Agano Party) and Prof. George Wajackoyah (Roots Party). This was the smallest number of candidates to be cleared to vie for presidency in East Africa since multiparty democracy in the early 1990s.
Kenyans voted in six elections to choose a new president as well as senators, governors, lawmakers, women representatives and some 1,500 county officials. This year however, there were various reports about the low voter out across the country. Election process was also marred by various cases of failed KIEMS kit. Some voters faced delays before casting their ballots while others were turned away after the KIEMS kits failed to pick their fingerprints.
Highlights of the 2022 elections:
Out of Kenya’s 47 counties, seven counties elected women governors during the Tuesday, August 9 elections. In Nakuru County, women leaders were elected in the county’s top seats, including senatorial, parliamentary and women rep.
A number of Kenyan celebrities also contested for various posts with some winning the seats they had vied for while others conceded defeat.
The 2022 election also attracted a large number of young politicians, many of whom were beaten while others beat political bigwigs.