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Vice President William Ruto has been declared ahead of five-time contender Raila Odinga in Kenya’s presidential election.
It’s a victory for someone who shakes up politics by attracting beleaguered Kenyans economically, not traditionally.
But confusion erupted just before the announcement, when the electoral committee’s vice-chairman and three other commissioners told reporters they could not support the “opaque nature” of the final phase.
“We cannot take ownership of the upcoming results,” said Vice-Chair Juliana Cherera.
At the declared location, police tried to remain calm amid the noise.
The committee split abruptly minutes after Mr Odinga’s chief surrogate said they could not verify the results and charged “election crimes” without providing details or evidence.
Mr Odinga did not go to the oath site.
Kenyans will now have to wait and see whether Mr Odinga will appear in court again to question the outcome of Tuesday’s peaceful election in a country crucial to regional stability.
It is likely to be the last attempt by the 77-year-old longtime opposition figure, this time with the backing of former rival and outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta, who he fought with a few years ago. His deputy, Mr. Luto, fell out.
Mr Ruto, despite being sidelined by the president, told voters the election was between a ‘cheater’ like him from ordinary backgrounds and the ‘dynasties’ of Kenyatta and Odinga, whose father is Kenyan The first president and vice president.
Mr. Odinga has been seeking the presidency for 25 years.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Ruto thanked Mr Odinga and stressed that the election was about issues rather than racial divisions, saying “thanks to the millions of Kenyans who refuse to be put into tribal cocoons”.
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