President William Ruto has revealed one of the reasons he managed to defeat Opposition Chief Raila Odinga in the August 2022 elections.
Speaking on Saturday, Ruto said he knew Raila personally, making it easier for him to defeat the ODM leader.
"Umesema unanijua, na mimi pai nakujua sana. Na kwa vile nakujua ndio maana niliweza kukushinda na Uhuru kwa uchaguzi uliopita," he said.
This translates to You (Raila) have said you know me and I know you well too. And because I know you, that is why I defeated you and Uhuru in the last elections.
The President was responding to Raila's remarks when he admitted to knowing Ruto.
"I’ve worked with Ruto for a long time. He knows me," Raila said.
The two were speaking during the burial of Mama Mukami in Kinangop Nyandarua County.
Ruto and Raila were once together as members of the ODM party before 2013.
On August 15, 2022, former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati declared William Ruto the winner of the presidential contest after he defeated Raila and two other candidates in the August 9 polls.
Ruto garnered 7.1 million votes against Raila's 6.9 million votes.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta had endorsed Raila as his preferred successor.