Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto has responded to questions surrounding the recent Tanzanian presidential election in which President Samia Suluhu secured 97.66% of the vote.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera on November 9, 2025, Ruto said each country manages its electoral affairs differently, even as the result sparked regional debate on democratic practices.
Ruto declined to directly criticise Tanzania’s electoral process when questioned about the near-unanimous outcome. “It’s not for me to judge Tanzania,” he said, adding, “Every country has a way of doing their stuff.”
However, he noted that such margins are unlikely in competitive democracies. “Well, in a democracy, for example, in Kenya, you can never get 96 per cent,” he stated, referencing his own 2022 win of 50.5 per cent.
Ruto, however, said countries in the region have achieved varying levels of democratic progress, defending President Yoweri Museveni’s 2021 victory in Uganda, which the US had described as flawed.
“I attended President Museveni’s swearing-in in the last election, and I think he got 57 per cent. He did not get 90 per cent,” Ruto told Al Jazeera’s James Bays.
The Tanzanian election, held on October 29, 2025, recorded 87 per cent voter turnout among 37.6 million registered voters, with Hassan receiving 31.9 million votes. Key opposition leaders, including CHADEMA’s Tundu Lissu and ACT-Wazalendo’s Luhaga Mpina, were barred from contesting.
Opposition officials claimed ballot stuffing, an internet blackout, and unlawful detentions. CHADEMA Secretary General John Mnyika said there were “hundreds of deaths” linked to post-election protests.
Responding to reports of unrest, he urged restraint. “I call upon the patriotic people of Tanzania to uphold peace and the rule of law, and I encourage all political actors and stakeholders to embrace dialogue and tolerance,” he said. He added that Kenya will continue to support regional cooperation.
Ruto described democracy as a system that evolves over time. “I think the primary thing is that democracy is the best governance system. It is not tidy always. It is not always easy,” he said. He emphasised the need to “protect democracy” while encouraging alternative viewpoints without violence.
He also referenced Uganda’s 2021 election. “I attended President Museveni’s swearing-in last election and I think he got 57 per cent of the vote. He didn’t get 90 per cent,” he said, noting different stages of democratic development across East Africa.
The African Union and international observers have called for investigations into alleged violence in Tanzania. The Tanzanian government has denied official casualty statistics.
