Kenya’s supreme court has confirmed William Ruto as winner of the country’s disputed national vote, ending weeks of political uncertainty after the opposition – and election officials – questioned the count.
Ruto was announced winner on 15 August amid a divide within the electoral commission over the declared outcome, which showed that the vice-president had gained 50.5% of the vote, beating the longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga and narrowly avoiding a run-off.
More than half of the commissioners disowned the vote, terming the process “opaque”, and Odinga launched a challenge in the court, alleging fraud, voter suppression and impunity by the commission’s chair, who he claimed acted unilaterally. It was Odinga’s fifth and likely last attempt at the presidency.
The court held that there was no credible evidence of fraud, interference or a failure of the electoral body’s technology.
It held that there were valid reasons for the postponement of the gubernatorial elections in certain areas (some of which were perceived Odinga strongholds) and that there were no grounds to conclude that the postponement had affected voter turnout.
Credit: theguardian.com
