On September 13, 2022, William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya’s fifth president after narrowly winning the August 2022 presidential election.
Ruto defeated Raila Odinga with 50.5% of the vote against Odinga’s 48.8%. Odinga challenged the result, but the Supreme Court upheld Ruto’s victory, ruling that the election was conducted in accordance with the law.
During the inauguration at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Ruto described his rise from a rural Kenyan background to the presidency as a historic moment.
William Ruto takes oath of officeas Kenya’s fifth president on September 13, 2022. PHOTO/PCS
The ceremony also marked the transfer of power from Uhuru Kenyatta, Ruto’s former political ally and outgoing president. Ruto pledged to serve all Kenyans regardless of how they voted.
Ruto won after portraying himself as a "hustler" who was challenging an attempt by two dynasties - the Odingas and Kenyattas - to hang on to power.
He promised a "bottoms-up" approach to the economy to tackle the high unemployment rate among young people, and to improve the lives of those less well off.