Unity Declaration News Today

William Samoei Ruto becomes Kenya’s first sitting deputy president to succeed the incumbent following competitive elections and first candidate to win the

William Ruto was declared the winner of Kenya's presidential election, despite a sustained pushback from former ally Uhuru Kenyatta, who chose to back Raila Odinga, writes Western K. Shilaho.

The recent party nomination of deputy president William Samoei Ruto as a presidential candidate sets the stage for a tight race in Kenya’s elections scheduled for early August. Ruto, 55, is leader of the United Democratic Alliance party, the newly formed and largest party in Kenya, under the Kwanza (Kenya First) coalition. His main rival is Raila Odinga, 77, who will run under the rival Azimio la Umoja (Unity Declaration) coalition.

Opinion polls, not all credible, have placed Ruto in pole position for the August elections - but the political ground could shift before then.

Elites have strong incentives to foment violence. The way they speak about election issues in the media can inflame tensions.

Elites have strong incentives to foment violence. The way they speak about election issues in the media can inflame tensions.