Ruto Wins in Kenya
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Allegations of vote rigging widespread as youths absent.
Kenya’s elections chief Wafula Chebukati has declared Deputy President William Ruto the winner of a tight presidential race, Monday, while chaotic scenes unfolded outside the electoral headquarters in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Four other senior election officials said the week-long count was too opaque and disowned the result, minutes before the chairman of the electoral commission Wafula Chebukati announced that Ruto had won the vote, his deputy Juliana Cherera had told media at a separate location that she and three other commissioners disowned the results.
“We are not able to take ownership of the results that will be announced,” she said.
Scuffles broke out as Ruto was confirmed the winner. Diplomats and international observers were made to leave before the results were read.
Throughout the verification process that began last week Wednesday after polling closed on Tuesday, accusations of vote rigging and of electoral officials tampering with results, especially from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s camp against the main challenger, Deputy President William Ruto went viral.
Gladwell Otieno of the Angaza Movement, a consortium of civic and human rights organizations pushing for electoral integrity and accountability, urged the electoral commission to address the allegations of vote rigging.
“We demand a full accounting from the IEBC of the extent of involvement of officers in electoral offenses and the steps taken against offending staff,” Otieno said. “We demand the full audit and disclosure from the IEBC of the extent of alteration to the election tallying results.
“We demand the Kenya police arrest any person involved in electoral fraud and fast-track investigations and those found culpable are convicted. It’s time we have accountability for continual electoral malpractice in this country.” Otieno emphasised.
Kenya’s Supreme Court invalidated presidential election results in 2017 due to irregularities and illegalities in the process.
Kenya’s disputed election results have led to protests, killings and inter-communal fighting.
This year’s vote recorded a low voter turn out with Kenyan youth absent at the polls. It saw a drop in overall turnout at 64.6%. Kenya’s past two elections under the 2010 constitution registered higher figures – 78% in August 2017 and 86% in March 2013. Kenyans aged 35 and below make up 75% of the population which is a cause for concern as they will be shut out of the political process.
Source AP/Reuters
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