55-year-old William Ruto has won the race to become the 5th President of the East African nation, according to results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Ruto, Deputy President to President Uhuru Kenyatta, narrowly beat his rival, a serial contestant, Raila Odinga, taking 50.5% of the votes, despite not backed by his principal.
The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr Odinga’s campaign.
Mr Odinga’s party agent earlier alleged that there were “irregularities” and “mismanagement” in the election.
This was the first time Mr Ruto had run for president.
He has served as deputy president for 10 years, but fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed Mr Odinga to succeed him.
ALSO READ: NCDC reports 60 suspected cases of Monkeypox in Lagos, Ogun, 16 other states
The electoral commission chairman Wafula Chebukati said he had done his duty despite receiving threats.
“I took an oath of office to serve this country and I have done my duty in accordance with the constitution and the laws of the land,” he said.
“We have walked the journey of ensuring that Kenyans get a free, fair and credible election. It has not been an easy journey– right now two of my commissioners and the CEO are injured,” he added.
In his speech, President-elect Ruto thanked the electoral commission for overseeing the election.”It is a wonderful evening… all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya,” Mr Ruto said, calling Mr Chebukati a “hero”.
Mr Ruto said he wanted to be a president for all, and for the country to focus on the future.
“To those who have done many things against us, I want to tell them there’s nothing to fear. There will be no vengeance. We do not have the luxury to look back,” he added.
Meanwhile, chaos had emerged just before the declaration when the electoral commission’s vice chair and three other commissioners told journalists they could not support the “opaque nature” of the final phase.
“We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced,” vice chair Juliana Cherera said.
At the declaration venue, police surged to impose calm amid shouting as pushing and shoving ensued.
Four of seven Kenyan election commission officials say they “cannot take the ownership of the results” of the presidential election because of “opaque nature” of counting, according to the commission’s Deputy Chairperson Juliana Cherera.