Thread by @mwarv

Over 50 million Kenyans are waking up to a new President after Dr William Ruto took the oath of office yesterday, becoming the East African Nation’s Fifth President.

Here are my favourite captures from the Inauguration Ceremony.

#InaugurationKenya

By the time I got to Kasarani at 5.30am, thousands were already in the Stadium and thousands more were making their way in on foot, boda boda and cars to make sure they arrived before the stadium was at capacity.

I missed the better part of the sunrise but I could already tell this was going to be a new dawn for Kenya.

By the time I got inside the Stadium at around 7am, it was packed to capacity and gates had been closed for a while with no room left to accommodate more enthusiastic Kenyans.

For those who had made their way inside, the joy of having their favourite candidate in the August 9 elections become the 5th President was palatable.

They were dancing, singing, jumping and shouting… all to express their uncontainable excitement.

Young or old… Male or female… Rural or urban… It did not matter. They were here to celebrate. And celebrate they did.

These were the signs of the times.

Musicians were tasked with entertaining the crowd as they waited for the arrival of the incoming President and his Deputy.

And entertain them they did.

Every set was greeted with cheers from the capacity crowd at Kasarani.

When the DJ played Emmy Kosgei’s Taunet Nelel, no one could remain seated. This hit is over 10 years old and still has the same effect as it did the day it was released.

Meanwhile on the Presidential Dias, last minute touches were being done to make sure everything was ready for the great occasion.

Kenya Defence Forces took the time to rehearse the Guard of Honour which was to be inspected by the outgoing President.

As the clock approached 10 and with about 20 heads of state and government from across Africa expected, those assigned to receive them made their way to the front of the Dias.

When the KDF Band and Soldiers returned to the Stadium in full ceremonial regalia, we knew the moment thousands had been waiting for was very near.

Uhuru Kenyatta arrived and inspected his last Guard of Honour as the 4th President.

A few minutes to 1pm, Dr William Ruto prepared to take his Oath of Office with his wife Rachel by his side. He was clearly overjoyed. It was a big day not just for him, but for the country as a whole.

At 1.03pm, @WilliamsRuto took his Oath of Office.

And at 1.16pm, @rigathi took his Oath of Office.

I present to you, Kenya’s Fifth.

Uhuru Kenyatta presenting the instruments of power to Dr William Ruto was greeted with cheers from the crowd.

This moment was huge! After an apparent ‘fallout’ between the two, it was nice to see a brotherly hug that hasn’t been seen since Uhuru’s handshake with Raila.

(I still think the Uhuru-Ruto enmity is a fictional, highly rated political series that has been running since 2018)

By the way, wasn’t former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta looking all that!

The leadership handover was followed by another round of entertainment.

Zabron Singers performing Mkono wa Bwana had the entire stadium on their feet!

Deputy President @rigathi then made his address to the nation.

He later invited Dr William Ruto to do the same.

I feel @WilliamsRuto’s inaugural address felt more presidential, touching on matters of national importance that we as a country need to anticipate and plan for moving forward.

Uganda’s Kaguta Museveni, Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye and Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan also addressed the nation.

At the close of the ceremony, Dr William Ruto took a lap of honour round the stadium in the Ceremonial Landcruiser and was greeted with cheers from the crowd that remained to the end of the ceremony.

I hope you enjoyed the thread.

What are your expectations from a Ruto - Gachagua Presidency?