William Ruto Sworn in As Kenya’s Fifth President

 

By 5 a.m., Nairobi's 60,000-seat Kasarani Sports Centre was packed with Ruto's supporters resplendent in his party's colors of yellow and green.

 

The National Police Service had tweeted that the stadium was full by 5 a.m. and asked citizens to stay home, but crowds continued to try to force their way inside. The St John's Ambulance Service said it had taken several injured people to hospital. 

 

Ruto has been deputy to President Uhuru Kenyatta since 2013, but they fell out after the 2017 election. Kenyatta backed opposition leader Raila Odinga to succeed him in the August election and denounced Ruto as unfit for office.

 

Kenyatta finally publicly congratulated Ruto on the eve of his inauguration.

 

"You will be president not just for those who voted for you but for all Kenyans," he said.