Kenya’s president elect says no time to waste after election as Raila Odinga prepares court challenge

Kenya’s president-elect William Ruto said he’s ready to forge ahead in tackling an economic crisis in the country while stating that he has no time to waste.

The president-elect defeated veteran politician Raila Odinga who has prepared a legal challenge to overturn his loss in the recently concluded election.

Ruto was declared president-elect on Monday by Kenya’s election commission chairman after a closely fought race to lead East Africa’s richest country.

However, four of the seven election commissioners have challenged the results in what will pave the way for legal contests between Mr. Ruto and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga who pledged to contest the election results he called a “travesty”.

Ruto nevertheless said he was forging ahead with creating an administration, promising that no Kenyan would be excluded, irrespective of their political or ethnic affiliation.

Although, the 55-year-old did not directly address Odinga’s plan to challenge his victory, but he promised to respond to the much anticipated court cases while adhering to the rule of law.

When eventually sworn-in, Uhuru Kenyatta’s successor will have to tackle a surge in food and fuel prices triggered by the war in Ukraine, rising unemployment, and a mountain of debt used to finance development through Kenyatta’s 10 years in office.