On Monday, Kenya’s electoral commission chairman declared Deputy President William Ruto as the winner of the country’s close presidential race in an announcement that could presage a court challenge. A decision was made against Raila Odinga, who ran over five times.
With his appeal to struggling Kenyans’ economic concerns instead of their ethnic loyalties, the candidate shook up the East African nation’s politics. In last Tuesday’s election, Ruto won 50.5% compared to Odinga’s nearly 49%.
The “opaque nature” of the final steps, without giving details, was not acceptable to four of the seven electoral commissioners just before the announcement. Police rushed to restore order as the choir sang amid screams and scuffles in the auditorium. There was a throwing of the lectern on the stage and throwing of the lectern from the stage.
Following the announcement of the official results, commission chairman Wafula Chebukati announced two of the commissioners who remained behind had been injured. A quorum of commissioners was not constituted at the time of announcing a winner, according to Odinga’s campaign.
