Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto is now the country’s president-elect after he was declared the winner of last Tuesday’s presidential election amid dramatic scenes in the capital, Nairobi. Before Wafula Chebukati, the chair of Kenya’s electoral commission could announce Ruto’s victory. Ruto received 50.49% of the vote, the chairman said, while Odinga received 48.85%.
Ruto, who has promised a break from the “dynasties” that have dominated Kenyan politics since independence, projected a conciliatory tone in his acceptance speech, urging unity. Kenya is a model of democracy in East Africa, a region where authoritarianism has been ascendant. These elections had been hailed as a step forward for Kenyan democracy because the campaign was marked by political maturity. Politicians focused on economic issues, instead of the tribal mobilization that has been a feature of every Kenyan election since independence.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Kenya Capital: Nairobi;
- Kenya Currency: Shilling.