Kenya Opposition Leader Rejects Presidential Election Results, Risking Turmoil

Raila Odinga’s decision to challenge William Ruto’s victory raised fears of postelection violence

William Ruto was declared winner of Kenya’s presidential election, which descended into chaos moments before the announcement. Protesters took to the streets after the opposition leader's campaign alleged the vote had been corrupted. Photo: Ed Ram/Getty Images

NAIROBI, Kenya—Opposition leader Raila Odinga, declared the loser of last week’s presidential election in Kenya, rejected the results Tuesday and vowed to challenge William Ruto’s victory in court.

Mr. Odinga’s move risked throwing the bitterly fought race into crisis and raised fears Kenya could again face the partisan and ethnic violence that left some 1,100 people dead after disputed elections in 2007. In that race, Messrs. Odinga and Ruto ran on the same opposition ticket and their supporters spent months fighting backers of then-President Mwai Kibaki.

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