William Ruto Rejects Uhuru Kenyatta's 2022 Election Rigging Claims

President William Ruto criticized former President Uhuru Kenyatta on September 27, urging leaders to be disciplined and responsible after Kenyatta claimed the late Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election. Speaking at a church service in Mwatate, Ruto warned against making incoherent statements while intoxicated that could reopen old political wounds. Official results from 2022 declared Ruto the winner with 7.1 million votes to Odinga's 6.9 million, a result upheld by the Supreme Court.

The dispute follows a September 22 address at the Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi, where Kenyatta asserted that Odinga had emerged victorious. These claims coincided with allegations from Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who stated Odinga was denied victory in 2013 and 2017. Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria further intensified the controversy by claiming he and other operatives manipulated electoral servers during the 2013 and 2017 cycles to secure Kenyatta's victories and avoid a runoff.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission condemned these allegations as reckless and baseless, emphasizing its commitment to biometric technology for the 2027 general election. This defense comes as some United Democratic Alliance officials suggested using ballot stuffing or dead voters' fingerprints to ensure Ruto's 2027 victory. Meanwhile, ODM leader Oburu Oginga questioned why Kenyatta transferred power to Ruto if he believed the 2022 election was rigged.