Kenya’s Supreme Court on Monday upheld results declaring William Ruto winner of last month’s presidential elections.

Ruto, 55, won with 50.49% of the vote against his rival Raila Odinga’s 48.85%, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced in August.

Raila Odinga, and his party AZIMIO had alleged there had been massive fraud. 

But in a scathing ruling, the judges said some of the petitioners had falsified evidence.

The 55-year-old will be sworn in as the country’s fifth president next week. 

Following the ruling, Mr Ruto said he would extend a hand of friendship to his political opponents, and praised the judiciary and the electoral commission for upholding the “will of the people”.