NAIROBI, Kenya – Dr. William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto has been sworn in as the fifth President of Kenya at Kasarani International Stadium in Nairobi today.
Twenty (20) heads of state and government present included Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi and Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan among others attended the event.
Ruto and his deputy Gachagua Rigathi took the oath on a copy of Kenya‘s constitution, five weeks to the day since the August 9 poll, administered by the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi, in the presence of Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Rigathi Gachagua, 57, a former member of Parliament who has served previously in various capacities in public administration, was sworn in as Kenya’s twelfth deputy president.
“In full realization of the high calling I assume as President of the Republic of Kenya, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of Kenya; that I will obey, preserve, protect and defend this Constitution of Kenya, as by law established, and all other laws of the Republic; and that I will protect and uphold the sovereignty, integrity, and dignity of the people of Kenya. So help me God!” said Ruto, taking the Oath of due execution of the office of the president.
The went the oath of the due execution of the office of the President “I William Samoei Ruto, swear that I will truly and diligently serve the people and the republic of Kenya in the office of president of the republic of Kenya that I will diligently discharge my duties and perform my function in the office of the presidency in the republic of Kenyan and I will do justice to all in accordance to this constitution as by the law established and the law of Kenya without fear, favor, affection or ill will.”
The swearing-in and inauguration started with the entry of President Uhuru Kenyatta aboard the Commander-in-Chief’s ceremonial vehicle. Kenyatta then inspected a full parade mounted by the Kenya Defense Forces.
The 60,000-seat Kasarani Sports Centre in the capital city of Nairobi was full by five in the morning, with Ruto’s fans decked out in yellow and green attire, the colors of his party. Many of these were filmed performing dances and waving miniature flags of their countries while a band played music from the stands. There was heavy security presence. According to the Interior Ministry, 10,000 police officers were deployed to provide security for the attendees.
Thousands more were left locked outside as the stadium was full to capacity. There were several stampedes outside the stadium as those left outside tried to go in, and at least eight people were injured and taken to hospital by emergency services.
Accompanied by his wife Racheal Ruto, President Ruto came from the official Deputy President Residence in Karen and arrived at Kasarani stadium towards midday where he was welcomed by His deputy Gachagua Rigathi who had arrived a few minutes earlier while tens of thousands who had stormed the stadium to witness his inauguration were cheering from the stands.
Ruto has served as Kenyatta’s deputy since 2013, but they fell out with his long-time senior after the 2017 election. Kenyatta then backed opposition leader Raila Odinga to succeed him but Ruto went ahead to beat Odinga by less than two percentage points.
Ruto who was the flag bearer of Kenya Kwanza Alliance garnered 7,176,141 representing 50.49% while his close competitor Odinga of Azimio La Umoja coalition garnered 6,942,930 representing 48.85% out of the 14 million ballots cast.
A few days later, Odinga launched a legal challenge, charging Ruto with employing fraud to win the election. However, the Supreme Court dismissed his case and upheld Ruto’s victory. This was the fifth time Odinga,77 was running for the office of the Presidency.
Beginning in April 2013, Ruto himself was the country’s first elected deputy president, replacing the vice presidential post, which was appointed, not elected.
Born in December 1966 in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu County in Kenya’s Rift Valley, 55-year-old Ruto is a graduate of the University of Nairobi with a bachelor of science in botany and zoology.
Ruto went back to the university in 2011 where he got a master’s in science and later a PhD in the same field.
In 2011, then-Deputy President Ruto and Kenyatta, then deputy prime minister, were among six people accused of war crimes at the International Criminal Court for funding and sponsoring violence in 2007-8 post-election violence that killed at least 1,200 people.
Their cases were dropped in 2016 due to insufficient evidence after witnesses withdrew from the case.
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