William Ruto was Tuesday sworn in as Kenya's fifth president, replacing Uhuru Kenyatta who’s completed two five-year terms. The inauguration, attended by about 20 Heads of State and Government, including Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, took place at Nairobi's 60,000-seat Kasarani Sports Centre. The 55-year-old won last month’s presidential poll, narrowly beating his main challenger, Raila Odinga, with 50.5 per cent of the vote. Ruto served as Kenya’s Deputy President from 2013 until his inauguration as new President. Ruto, whose story is one of rags-to-riches, received instruments of power from Kenyatta, who’s thought to have backed former foe-turned-ally Odinga during the just-concluded poll. Rigathi Gachagua, Ruto’s running-mate during the election, was sworn in as Deputy President. The inauguration was conducted by Chief Justice Martha Koome, who earlier this month delivered a unanimous Supreme Court verdict upholding Ruto’s victory. Kenya-Rwanda ties Ruto met with Kagame at his former Karen office in Nairobi on Monday, September 12, and later tweeted saying he was committed to stronger ties with Rwanda. Kenya and Rwanda have a long established relationship based not just on geography but mutual interests and long standing partnerships on economic and security issues. We will seek to build and expand our cooperation for the mutual benefit of the citizens of our countries. pic.twitter.com/spyV46dIdj — William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 12, 2022 “Kenya and Rwanda have a long established relationship based not just on geography but mutual interests and long standing partnerships on economic and security issues. We will seek to build and expand our cooperation for the mutual benefit of the citizens of our countries,” he wrote.
