MAUREEN WARUINGE ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST

16 August 2022

• Ruto's United Democratic Alliance or UDA also clinched 11 parliamentary seats in President Uhuru's home county, Kiambu.

• Leaders have reached out to celebrate his win.

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati on Monday after some fracas at the Bomas of Kenya tallying centre declared Ruto as the president-elect.

Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes representing 50.49 percent of the final vote, while Raila received 6,942,930 votes this 48.85 percent, as announced by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya national tallying centre.

However, Raila’s chief agent Kanchory Saitabao accused the IEBC and chairman Wafula Chebukati of tampering with election results.

As Chebukati was making the announcement, four IEBC commissioners were at Serena Hotel, where they disputed the presidential election results.

The four, led by commissioner Juliana Cherera, said they cannot take ownership of the results because of the opaque nature they have been handled.

"We have done the 2022 general election in the most efficient manner. We have ensured that all the challenges have been contained," commissioner Juliana Cherera said during a hastily arranged press briefing.

Mugithii singer Samidoh has congratulated President-elect William Ruto on his win.

Taking to his social media, Samidoh expressed confidence writing, "Life is a race, not a stroll. It’s a series of sprints, stops and starts, highs and lows, and a million other scenarios. Kenya belongs to all of us, we forge forward, peace being the biggest winner. The nation is bigger than any one of us. Congratulations to the president-elect.Back to our daily jobs peacefully."

After being given his certificate, William Ruto told him he had agreed with his rival Raila Odinga to have a conversation, no matter the outcome.

Speaking during an interview with media houses shortly after he was announced the winner of the presidential race, Ruto expressed confidence that Odinga will take up his role in the opposition

“I am aware of the situation of the issue facing our nation. We don’t have time for argument, we will hit the ground running,” he stated.

He stated that he also expects to hold talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta who was yet to reach out to him.

“I haven’t talked to Uhuru but am sure they will be a conversation because am the president-elect,” he said.

“Either at the transition committee or this evening or tomorrow. As a Democrat this morning I called Odinga and I told him whatever the outcome we will have a conversation.”