Kenyan Election: Atiku congratulates Ruto, commends Odinga for closely fought contest

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Kenya’s president-elect, William Ruto, on his victory in the just-concluded presidential election.

It was reported that Ruto emerged winner of the August 9th presidential election, after polling 50.49 per cent of the total votes cast (7,176,141) to defeat his closest rival, ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who polled 48.85 per cent ( 6,942,930) of votes cast.

Atiku in a statement on his verified Facebook page, Wednesday also commended Odinga for a closely fought contest.

The former Vice President said the people of Kenya have done well so far with the election process.

Waziri Adamawa described the announcement of the results and declaration of a winner as the crunch time in the history of the country.

The statement partly read “Even though a winner has emerged, and indeed has to emerge in an electoral contest of this nature, the people of Kenya and certainly its democracy is the greatest winner.

“There can never be any losers if everyone joins hands in working together to improve the well-being of the people. It is imperative that the citizens cutting across all political divides eschew violence and animosity to safeguard the gains of the past.

“Whatever issues there are about the election can always be resolved within the ambits of the law. As one, Kenyans will be the better for it”.