WILLIAM Ruto was sworn in as Kenya’s fifth president on Tuesday in a ceremony attended by dozens of global leaders and diplomats — a peaceful handover of power following a bitter election campaign that underscored the entrenched if troubled place of democracy in East Africa’s largest economy.
The Moi International Sports Center was filled to its capacity of 60,000 people by 5 a.m., with attendees blowing vuvuzelas, dancing to gospel and patriotic songs and waving the Kenyan flag. Immediately after the new president was inaugurated, the crowd broke into chants of “Ruto, Ruto” as fireworks popped near the dais and confetti was scattered across the stadium.
Mr. Ruto promised in his speech to alleviate the challenges posed by a spike in food and fertilizer costs, improve access to credit for small and medium businesses and make Kenya a thriving investment and business destination.
Commending the role of the electoral commission
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