Ruto replaces Kenyatta as Kenya's new President

Ruto replaces outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta who did not support his candidacy. Kenyatta is in the twilight of his presidency and will leave office later in August.

His rival Raila Odinga's coalition rejected the yet to be announced results of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC The national tallying centre descended into chaos shortly after Odinga's coalition rejected the results, with fighting and chairs being thrown in the building.

Four officials disowned the commission's chairman, Wafula Chebukati, the commission's results, officials said at a separate press conference that the country's electoral commission was divided over the results of the country's election.

The vice chair of the IEBC, Juliana Cherera, was among those disputing the results. During the campaign, Ruto described himself as the hustler-in chief, citing his humble beginnings as a chicken seller who fought his way up to the top of Kenyan politics. Analysts had predicted a win for his rival Raila Odinga, given his performance in opinion polls and the government support he enjoyed. Ruto's populist man-of-the-people approach, which rejected political dynasties and played on anti-elite sentiment in the country, endeared him to voters. The political analyst Herman Manyora told CNN ahead of the election that Ruto has euphoric enthusiasm for the youths. Ruto is a former teacher who holds a doctorate in plant ecology from the University of Nairobi and pledges to promote Kenya's economy and uplift ordinary citizens as president. He will be under pressure to come up with solutions to Kenya's pressing economic problems, including rising debt, high food and fuel prices, and mass youth unemployment. Ruto has a long and varied history in Kenyan politics and was tried in the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands in 2013 for alleged crimes against humanity after deadly violence in the 2007 elections. The charges were later thrown out.