TIFA: 12% of Ruto’s voters believe he lost the election
A study conducted by TIFA, an African market research company, reveals 12% of those who voted for President William Ruto in the August 2022 polls do not believe he won the election.
The same study shows that 75% of those who voted for the Head of State believe he won the election.
14% of the voters in this category are unsure.
Meanwhile, the same study indicates that 71% of those who cast the ballot in favour of Raila Odinga, Ruto’s main opponent in the polls, believe the Head of State did not win the election while 14% of those who supported Mr Odinga’s failed election bid believe he lost.
These findings suggest a significant level of skepticism among both President Ruto and Mr Odinga’s supporters regarding the outcome of this election.
The controversy surrounding the election results stems from the moment former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commision (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati declared President Ruto the winner despite a divided electoral commission.
This is after four commissioners, led by CHebukati’s number two Juliana Cherrera, disputed the results, referring to them as opaque.
Ruto garnered 50.5 of all the votes, narrowly defeating Mr Odinga and avoiding a runoff.
Mr Odinga then launched an unsuccessful legal challenge, alleging fraud, voter suppression, and unilateral action by the commission’s chair at the Supreme Court.
Upon the Supreme Court confirming President Ruto’s victory, Mr Odinga then elected to take his concerns to the court of public opinion, where he has been holding meetings and demonstrations while putting pressure on President Ruto to open the IEBC server.
This, he says, will reveal the real winner of the elections.
Mr Odinga has also demanded for electoral reforms while accusing Mr Chebukati of bungling the elections.
Mr Ruto has accepted to discuss electoral reforms but maintains he does not have the powers to access the servers.
Also read: Why Kenyans are suddenly wearing face masks
Kivutha Kibwana blasts Kalonzo Musyoka over Yatta farm security