Kenya

Kenya Election: William Ruto Sworn In As President After Close Vote

AUG 22 2022·Updated JUN 25 2024

Story

Image credit: AFP/Getty Images [via NBC News]

The Facts

William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya's new president on Tues. after narrowly winning the generally peaceful Aug. 9 election. He vowed to be a president for all Kenyans, regardless of their voting decisions.
NPR
Following weeks of political uncertainty, Kenya's Supreme Court on Sept. 5 upheld the disputed election of William Ruto as the country's new president in a unanimous decision.
Reuters
The ruling came after Ruto's opponent, Raila Odinga, had asked the court to declare the election results invalid, in part because of an alleged mismatch between the turnout figures and the result. Odinga also accused Kenya's Independent Electoral Commission and its chairman Wafula Chebukati of anti-democratic and fraudulent acts.
BBC News
In a tight race, the Commission declared first-time candidate William Ruto Kenya's new president on Aug. 15 after he defeated Odinga with about 50.5% of the vote. Five-time presidential candidate Odinga managed to achieve a little under 49% of the total.
CBS News
However, four of the seven election commissioners refused to approve the final phase of voting, which Juliana Cherera, the Commission's deputy chairwoman, described as "opaque."
CGTN Africa
While Kenya is considered East Africa's most stable democracy, Ruto takes over a heavily indebted country from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, which is believed to challenge his efforts to fulfill far-reaching campaign promises to Kenya's poor.
NBC

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

With the decision of the Kenyan Supreme Court, the country has indeed lived up to its reputation as a relative bastion of democracy and the rule of law in East Africa. But respect must also be paid to Odinga since a candidate's political and democratic maturity is particularly evident in defeat. Thus, he can certainly be considered a model of political dignity even beyond Kenya.

CNN

Establishment-critical narrative

In all this drama one thing must not be forgotten: as in many places around the world, "democracy" in Kenya has degenerated into a mere symbolic act of voting. This election is no exception - it's merely a facade in which power-hungry alleged representatives of the people play a rigged game, and it's paramount to recognize this reality.