Security Concerns Rise, Ruto Declared Winner Of Kenya Election

Security concerns are mounting in east Africa's largest economy, Kenya, as the declaration of results of the presidential election descends into violence.

• The Electoral Commission has declared that Deputy President William Ruto is the winner of the election, defeating perennial presidential challenger Railia Odinga. Ruto won 50.49% of the vote against former Prime Minister Odinga's 48.85%.
• Ahead of the announcement of the result, the deputy chairperson of the election commission and three other commissioners disowned the outcome of the elections. At a different venue from the official result announcement, the deputy commission chair stated that “We are not able to take ownership of the results that will be announced,"
• Fighting broke out in the tallying hall ahead of the result announcement, with wires reporting that two commissioners and the head of the electoral commission had been injured, and were being treated for said injuries.
• Kenya has seen significant violence erupt in the past following closely contested elections, with hundreds killed following the 2017 election and over 1,200 after the 2007 vote.
• Kenya plays a pivotal role in the economy of east Africa, and is also important for broader geopolitical security around the Horn of Africa. A destabilised gov't in Nairobi risks the stability of the regional economy, and could see the security situation in neighbouring Somalia and Ethiopia deteriorate without a stable administration in place.