•The President went on and said that he was proud of how Kenyans conducted themselves in the August 2022 elections.
•On August 15, 2022, former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati declared William Ruto the winner of the presidential contest after he defeated Raila and two other candidates in the August 9 polls.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto on Sunday revealed why the 2022 general elections are regarded as one of Kenya's best.
Speaking in Migori, Ruto with a thankful heart commended and appreciated the people in the area for the votes they gave him in the elections.
" Mwaka uliopita mlinipea kura, ata kama ni kidogo. Hiyo kidogo ndio nimekuja kupeana shukrani,"he said.
This translates to: Last year you gave me votes, even if they were few. Those few votes is why I'm here to say thank you.
The President went on and said that he was proud of how Kenyans conducted themselves in the August 2022 elections.
He explained that in the previous years of elections, Kenya was used to violence after people went to the ballot but last year the scenario was different.
" People from different regions across the country put aside their political differences and ethnic belongings and said no to post-election violence. People were awaiting post-election violence but as Kenya we proved them wrong," Ruto added.
The Head of State further said that there were three issues that stood out for him in last year's elections.
Ruto said that the elections were peaceful and that is why he will continue thanking Kenyans for that.
The President also acknowledged that the August 2022 elections were not founded on ethnic divide.
"Raila who was my main competitor also got votes across all region in the country and I also got the same," Ruto said
"In fact, for the first time, a President was elected in Kenya with 25 percent in 39 counties. That was not the case in 2013 and 2017 .. for the first time we had a President elected with a majority of Kenyans from most counties," he added.
Ruto also noted that for the first time Kenya's elections was known that it was the people and God who decided the leaders.
"Earlier before it was said that a few people sit and decide who will lead Kenyans called deep state and systems..I hear there is also machinery. But last year it was proved that it is Kenyans and God who decide," he said.
On August 15, 2022, former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati declared William Ruto the winner of the presidential contest after he defeated Raila and two other candidates in the August 9 polls.
Ruto garnered 7.1 million votes against Raila's 6.9 million.
However, Raila Odinga rejected the results terming them "null and void" and promised a bruising battle at the Supreme Court.
The apex court, however, threw out the consolidated petition for lack of sufficient evidence even as the judges indicted Chebukati for having fallen short in some areas in administering the election.
Chief Justice Martha Koome said Ruto garnered 50 percent plus one of the votes cast saying discrepancies noted in some polling stations were not sufficient to annul Ruto's win.
Raila half-heartedly accepted the ruling although he said he does not agree with the judgment.