William Ruto will be sworn in as Kenya’s president on Tuesday after narrowly winning the coveted job in a hard-fought but largely peaceful election.
Around 20 heads of state and thousands of spectators are expected to attend his inauguration at a Nairobi stadium.
A notoriously ambitious politician who has been deputy president since 2013, Ruto beat his rival Raila Odinga – who had been supported by outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta – by less than two percentage points.
He now faces a daunting task of leading a polarized country gripped by a cost-of-living crisis and a punishing drought, analysts say.
The 55-year-old rags-to-riches businessman who once sold roadside chickens will become only Kenya’s fifth president in post-independence history.
According to the law, Ruto must take the oath of office by 14:00 (1100 GMT) Tuesday, exactly five weeks to the day since the August 9 elections.
His rise to State House was closely watched by the international community, which depends on Kenya as a reliable and stable democratic partner in a turbulent region.
Foreign allies and independent observers hailed the course of the vote, which was largely peaceful and free from the violence that marred past elections in the country of 50 million.
Ruto won by only around 200,000 votes out of 14 million votes cast, but the Supreme Court upheld his victory on September 5, dismissing his opponents’ claims of fraud and mismanagement.
– ‘Hand of Fraternity’ –
Outgoing leader Kenyatta, who in a surprising turn of events campaigned for his longtime arch-rival Odinga, has promised a smooth transfer of power.
Kenyatta finally shook Ruto’s hand at a meeting at the president’s residence on Monday, after several weeks of explicitly not publicly congratulating his deputy.
Ruto has adopted a conciliatory tone, extending the “hand of brotherhood” to his rivals and their supporters.
“We are not enemies. We are Kenyans,” Ruto said after the court decision.
But observers say he faces a difficult task of building goodwill after a divisive and expensive political campaign that lasted well over a year and was peppered with bitterness and personal slander.
“This is the time to close ranks, embrace opponents and help forge a united front without cheap political competition,” wrote Kenya’s The Standard newspaper in a September 11 editorial.
Many ordinary Kenyans stayed away from the ballot box, with disenchantment, especially among the youth, and economic hardship being blamed for the low turnout.
East Africa’s political and economic powerhouse is suffering from a once-in-a-generation drought and inflation is at a five-year high.
Ruto on Sunday said Kenya was “in a deep economic hole” and reiterated his pledge to prioritize cost-of-living reductions when he takes office.
From humble beginnings, the multi-millionaire posed as a champion of the oppressed throughout his campaign, vowing to create jobs and tackle a cost-of-living crisis.
His ambitious promises included the creation of a 50 billion shillings ($415 million) “Hustler Fund” to lend to small businesses and a commitment to lower fuel, grain and fertilizer prices.
– Generous farewell –
But the task of turning the country’s economic fortunes might not be easy, said think tank International Crisis Group (ICG), urging Ruto to address the challenges quickly.
“Kenya’s 2022 elections may have been a success… However, for Ruto, with sky-high popular expectations and an economy in dire straits, governing may prove tougher than campaigning,” it said in a statement.
Ruto’s inauguration marks the end of Kenyatta’s nearly decade-long rule, and one of the rare occasions when his powerful family has not been at the forefront of Kenyan politics.
The outgoing president, who is already one of Kenya’s wealthiest citizens, will be generously sacked under the Kenyan constitution if he leaves office after two terms, the maximum number permitted by law.
The 60-year-old receives a tax-free lump sum of $324,000 annually and more than $600,000 in allowances.
Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta, will also have access to fully furnished offices, dozens of staff, VIP security and new cars of his choice, which will be replaced every three years.
