Ruto Congratulates President Suluhu On Her Re-election

BY ERIC ABUGA

President William Ruto has sent a congratulatory message to Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu upon her re-election.

In his message, President Ruto says the patriotic people of Tanzania should uphold peace and the rule of law.

"I encourage all political actors and stakeholders to embrace dialogue and tolerance as they seek to resolve any issues at hand in order to safeguard democracy and stability."

President Ruto says Kenya stands to continue engaging constructively in the pursuit of the shared vision for a peaceful, prosperous and integrated East Africa.

"Kenya and Tanzania share deep historical ties and common aspirations for the prosperity and stability of our peoples, anchored in our shared history and our joint membership in the                  East Africa Community."

President Suluhu was declared on Saturday the landslide winner of an election that set off deadly protests across the country this week over the exclusion of her main challengers.

Tanzania's electoral commission said Hassan, who took power in 2021 after the death in office of her predecessor, John Pombe, received more than 31.9 million votes, or 97 percent of the total.

The electoral commission said turnout had neared 87 percent of the country's 37.6 million registered voters.

In a speech from the administrative capital Dodoma after being certified as the winner, Hassan said the actions of the protesters were "neither responsible nor patriotic".

Tanzania's main opposition party CHADEMA - which was barred from the election for refusing to sign a code of conduct and had its leader arrested for treason in April - said on Friday that hundreds of people had been killed in the protests.