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Kenya election: Deputy president William Ruto declared winner  

Click to play video: 'Celebrations in Eldoret as Kenya’s Ruto declared president-elect'
Celebrations in Eldoret as Kenya’s Ruto declared president-elect
WATCH: Thousands of Eldoret residents took to the streets on Monday to celebrate after Kenya's elections chief declared Deputy President William Ruto the winner of a tight presidential race. The supporters, some of who had waited all day watching proceedings on giant screens mounted on the streets, chanted songs and slogans to celebrate Ruto's win – Aug 15, 2022

Kenya‘s electoral commission chairman has declared Deputy President William Ruto the winner of the close presidential election over five-time contender Raila Odinga, a triumph for the man who shook up politics by appealing to struggling Kenyans on economic terms and not on traditional ethnic ones.

But chaos 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.

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The sudden split in the commission came minutes after Odinga’s chief agent said they could not verify the results and made allegations of “electoral offenses” without giving details or evidence. Odinga didn’t come to the venue for the declaration.

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Now Kenyans wait to see whether Odinga will again go to court to contest the results of Tuesday’s peaceful election in a country crucial to regional stability. This is likely the final try for the 77-year-old longtime opposition figure backed this time by former rival and outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta, who fell out with his deputy, Ruto, years ago.
Click to play video: 'Rivals for Kenya’s presidency hold final rallies before vote'
Rivals for Kenya’s presidency hold final rallies before vote

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