William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya’s fifth president on Tuesday at a ceremony attended by tens of thousands of people in the capital, Nairobi.
Ruto narrowly won the 9 August election with 50.5% of the vote, to his main rival Raila Odinga’s 48.8%.
Ruto hailed his inauguration as “a moment like no other”, adding that a “village boy” had become president.
But Odinga did not attend. He issued a statement saying he had “serious concerns” about his opponent’s victory.
Odinga has alleged that the result was rigged, but the Supreme Court has ruled the election was free and fair.
Ruto, who was Kenya’s Vice President from 2012 to 2022, was handed a copy of Kenya’s constitution and a sword to represent the transfer of power from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
With his hand on a Bible, the 55-year-old swore to preserve and protect the constitution. He said:
<blockquote>
Standing here today is testimony that there is God in heaven. I want to thank God because a village boy has become the president of Kenya.
</blockquote>
Unlike his predecessor Uhuru, who is the son of Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta, Ruto grew up in rural areas.
He also portrayed himself as a hustler who was challenging an attempt by two dynasties – the Odingas and Kenyattas – to hang on to power.
Raila is the son of Kenya’s first Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Ruto had conciliatory words for Odinga and all his opponents. He said:
<blockquote>
Their supporters will be my constituents. I will work with all Kenyans irrespective of who they voted for.
</blockquote>
There was also a handshake between the outgoing Kenyatta and Ruto despite their differences during their second term in office.
Kenyatta has stepped down at the end of his two terms. He backed Odinga in the election, saying Ruto was unworthy to serve as president.
Kenyatta congratulated Ruto on his win but only a day before his inauguration.
About 20 heads of state from across Africa attended the event.
Leaders from the Christian and Islamic faiths offered prayers for the new president. | <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62886989">BBC News</a>

Pindula News

William Ruto Sworn In As Kenya President

Kenya’s Supreme court Monday confirmed William Ruto as the duly elected President of Kenya in a judgment over six Presidential petitions.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had filed a <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/08/23/kenyas-raila-odinga-challenges-election-result-in-court/">presidential election petition</a> challenging the outcome of the August 9th poll. The electoral commission declared Deputy President William Ruto <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/08/15/william-ruto-declared-winner-of-kenyas-presidential-election/">the winner with 7.1 million votes</a> while Odinga came second with 6.9 million. 
Odinga wanted the Supreme Court to <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/08/16/kenya-election-2022-odinga-rejects-rutos-victory-says-results-null-and-void/">overturn the result</a> and either declare him the winner or order a re-run. 
He accused his rival of hacking the electoral body’s systems and deducting some of his votes. Both the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Ruto deny the claims.
Kenyan Supreme Court said:
<blockquote>
Should we be asked to nullify an election on the basis of the last-minute rapture at IEBC? This we will not do because doing so would amount to usurping the Sovereign will of the Kenyan people who voted on 9 August!
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, president-elect William Ruto will be sworn in next week.
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Kenya's Supreme Court Confirms William Ruto As The Duly Elected President

Raila Odinga on Monday challenged Kenya’s presidential election results in the Supreme Court and alleged the tally had involved “criminality”.
The veteran opposition leader wants the Supreme Court of Kenya to nullify the vote’s outcome on several grounds, including a mismatch between the turnout figures and the result.
Odinga also alleged that the election commission failed to tally ballots from 27 constituencies, rendering the result unverifiable and unaccountable. Odinga said:
<blockquote>
We have enough evidence to prove all of the criminality that occurred. We are confident that in the end, the truth will be revealed.
</blockquote>
Odinga has made five attempts at the presidency and has blamed several previous losses on rigging.
In 2017, more than 100 people died, while in 2007, over 1 200 Kenyan lost their lives in election-related violence after Odinga had rejected the results.
Last week the election commissioner, Wafula Chebukati, declared Odinga’s rival, Deputy President William Ruto, had won the 9 August election by a slim margin.
Ruto secured 50.49 per cent of the vote in his first-ever attempt at the top job, just ahead of Odinga on 48.85 per cent.
However, four out of seven election commissioners, including Chebukati’s deputy, Juliana Cherera, dissented, saying the tallying of results had not been transparent.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, its chairman and Ruto have four days to respond to Odinga’s claims through court filings.
The case will be heard by the seven-member Supreme Court and presided over by Martha Koome, Kenya’s first female chief justice, who was appointed by Kenyatta last year.
The constitution requires judges to issue their decision within 14 days of the lawsuit being filed.
In 2017, the Supreme Court overturned the election result and ordered a re-run, which Odinga boycotted, saying he had no faith in the election commission.
In the 9 August election, Odinga was backed by President Uhuru Kenyatta after falling out with his deputy, Ruto, after the last election.
Kenya is East Africa’s wealthiest and most stable nation, home to regional headquarters for firms like General Electric, Google and Uber.
The country also provides peacekeepers for neighbouring Somalia and frequently hosts peace talks for other nations in the volatile East Africa region.
More: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/kenyas-odinga-challenge-presidential-poll-result-court-today-lawyer-2022-08-22/">Reuters</a>

Kenya's Raila Odinga Challenges Election Result In Court

The body of the missing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official Daniel Mbolu Musyoka has been found in Kajiado.
IEBC is the body that runs elections in Kenya.
On Monday evening, police officers from Loitoktok, Kajiado South sub-county were alerted over the presence of the body of a middle-aged man in a forest.
Loitok tok police boss Kipruto Ruto said that Musyoka’s body was positively identified by his sisters Mary Mwikali and Ann Mboya at Loitokitok sub-county mortuary. Said Ruto:
<blockquote>
His two sisters identified the body lying at Loitoktok sub-county hospital last night.
We are waiting for communication from police headquarters either to ferry the body to the city mortuary or to remain here.
</blockquote>
Musyoka (53) was serving as returning officer at Embakasi East polling station in Nairobi county.
According to Ruto, the middle-aged male body was discovered early on Monday in Kilombero forest, at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro by herders in the valley of a dry seasonal river.
Ruto said the body was naked, though the man’s clothes — a tracksuit and a Maasai shuka — were found at the edge of the valley.
There were visible signs of struggle and torture on the victim’s body. Added Ruto:
<blockquote>
It is evident that the victim was killed elsewhere and the body dumped in the valley. 
The body has scars indicating torture before the death. He possibly died a painful death.
</blockquote>
Musyoka disappeared on Wednesday, 10 August 2022 moments before announcing the results for the parliamentary and county assembly races at the East Africa School of Aviation tallying centre.
Those who interacted with him reportedly said he excused himself to answer a phone call before he went missing. His deputy took over and announced the results.
More: <a href="https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/kajiado/missing-embakasi-iebc-official-found-dead-in-kajiado-police-say-3915892">Nation</a>

Missing Kenyan Elections Official Found Dead In Forest

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has congratulated Kenya’s Vice President William Ruto following his victory in the closely-fought presidential election held on 9 August 2022.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati declared Ruto as president-elect and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua as the deputy president-elect, respectively.
In a post on his Twitter page on Monday evening, Mnangagwa congratulated Ruto and expressed confidence that he will serve his country to the best of his ability. He said:
<blockquote>
Congratulations to @WilliamsRuto on his election as the next President of Kenya.
I have no doubt he will serve his country, his people and our continent with distinction.
</blockquote>
Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes, representing 50.59 per cent of valid votes cast, beating his rival Azimio la Umoja candidate Raila Odinga who had 6,942,930 votes.
However, four IEBC commissioners held a surprise press conference at Serena Hotel, Nairobi on Monday afternoon and said they will not take ownership of the results.
The commissioners, including vice chair Juliana Cherera, commissioners Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya, claimed that the results were arrived at in an opaque manner, without giving further details.

Mnangagwa Congratulates Kenya's President-elect William Ruto

Kenya’s Vice President William Ruto was on Monday declared the winner of the closely-fought presidential election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Chebukati declared Kenya Kwanza’s candidate Ruto as president-elect and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua as the deputy president-elect, respectively.
Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes, representing 50.59 per cent of valid votes cast, beating his rival Azimio la Umoja candidate Raila Odinga who had 6,942,930 votes. Said Chebukati:
<blockquote>
Despite intimidation and harassment… I have done my duty in accordance with the constitution and the laws of the land.
</blockquote>
The declaration has been made without results from four of 290 constituencies – Kacheliba, Kitui Rural, Pokot South and Rongai – whose voting was postponed.
Turnout was lower than in previous elections at around 65 per cent of Kenya’s 22 million registered voters.
The announcement ceremony was held at the national tallying centre at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi and was attended by diplomats and foreign election observers.
Meanwhile, four IEBC commissioners held a surprise press conference at Serena Hotel, Nairobi on Monday afternoon and said they will not take ownership of the results.
The commissioners, including vice chair Juliana Cherera, commissioners Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya, claimed that the results were arrived at in an opaque manner, without giving further details.
More: <a href="https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/william-ruto-declared-kenya-president-elect-3915048">The East African</a>

William Ruto Declared Winner Of Kenya’s Presidential Election

Four commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the body that runs elections in Kenya, held a surprise press conference at Serena Hotel, Nairobi on Monday afternoon, on the pending results of elections held on 9 August 2022.
The commissioners said they will not take ownership of the results that will be announced by chair Wafula Chebukati.
The commissioners, including vice chair Juliana Cherera, commissioners Francis Wanderi, Irene Masit and Justus Nyang’aya, claimed that the results were arrived at in an opaque manner, without giving further details. Said Cherera:
<blockquote>
We are not at Bomas because we cannot take ownership of the results that are going to be announced.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://nation.africa/kenya/news/politics/four-iebc-commissioners-disown-chebukati-presidential-results-3915420">Nation</a>

Kenya: Four IEBC commissioners Disown Presidential Election Results

An official of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the body that runs elections in Kenya has gone missing.
Daniel Mbolu Musyoka (53) disappeared moments before announcing the results for the parliamentary and county assembly races at the East Africa School of Aviation tallying centre, reported the Nation.
On Friday, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati announced that Musyoka had gone missing and asked the police to expedite investigations.
Musyoka is the Embakasi East Constituency Returning Officer.
Speaking in an interview with the Nation at their home in Nyonjoro in Bahati Constituency, Nakuru County, Musyoka’s wife, Tabitha, said that the news about her husband’s disappearance has left the family devastated. She said:
<blockquote>
We’re devastated but we strongly hope my husband will be found alive and safe.
When we talked, he did not sound disturbed, he was in high spirits and did not complain about anything.
The day he disappeared, I tried calling him but he did not answer. I was later told by his cousin, who lives in Utawala, that he was missing.
</blockquote>
Tabitha added that search efforts have been extended to mortuaries, hospitals and other facilities.
The family wants detectives to expedite their investigations and help trace him.
According to the Nation, Musyoka has worked for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for 13 years.
He was posted to Loitoktok but was later transferred to Embakasi East in May.
The family said that police reported that his mobile phone signal disappeared an hour after he went missing.
When Musyoka disappeared, he was about to declare the winners in the National Assembly and County Assembly contests.
Those who interacted with him reportedly said he excused himself to answer a phone call before he went missing. His deputy took over and announced the results.
More: <a href="https://nation.africa/kenya/news/politics/search-continues-for-missing-iebc-official-daniel-musyoka-as-his-family-worries-3914642">Nation</a>

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