NAIROBI: The chairman of Kenya’s Electoral Commission has declared Vice President William Ruto the winner of a close presidential election against five-time candidate Raila Odinga, a triumph for the man who rocked politics by calling on struggling Kenyans in economic terms and not in traditional ethnic terms.
But chaos emerged just before the statement when the deputy chairman of the electoral commission and three other commissioners told reporters they could not support the “opaque nature” of the final stage. “We cannot appropriate the result which is going to be announced”, vice-president Juliana Cherera said. At the place of the declaration, the police burst in to impose calm amidst the cries.
The sudden split in the commission came minutes after Odinga’s chief agent said he could not verify the results and made allegations of “election offences” without giving details or evidence. Odinga did not come to the place of the statement.
Now Kenyans are waiting to see if Odinga will go to court again to challenge the results of Tuesday’s peaceful election in a country crucial to regional stability. It is likely to be the last try for the 77-year-old longtime opposition figure, backed this time by former rival and incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta, who fell out with his deputy, Ruto, a while ago. years.
But chaos emerged just before the statement when the deputy chairman of the electoral commission and three other commissioners told reporters they could not support the “opaque nature” of the final stage. “We cannot appropriate the result which is going to be announced”, vice-president Juliana Cherera said. At the place of the declaration, the police burst in to impose calm amidst the cries.
The sudden split in the commission came minutes after Odinga’s chief agent said he could not verify the results and made allegations of “election offences” without giving details or evidence. Odinga did not come to the place of the statement.
Now Kenyans are waiting to see if Odinga will go to court again to challenge the results of Tuesday’s peaceful election in a country crucial to regional stability. It is likely to be the last try for the 77-year-old longtime opposition figure, backed this time by former rival and incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta, who fell out with his deputy, Ruto, a while ago. years.
