God, grace, hard work have done it for him, Ruto's mother says

Mama Sarah Cheruiyot, president-elect William Ruto's mother. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

President-elect William Ruto's mother has reacted to the Supreme Court's judgment on the presidential election petition, saying she's happy that Kenyans' will has prevailed.

Her reaction comes hours after the Supreme Court of Kenya upheld Ruto's win in the August 9 polls.

During a live interview on KTN News on Monday, Ruto's mother, Mama Sarah Cheruiyot, said her son's victory was made possible by God, grace and hard work.

"I thank God for being with us. I have nothing more to say because God has answered our prayers," she said at her Kamagut home in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County.

Cheruiyot said her son's journey to the top office started in the early 1990s when elders in Uasin Gishu County noticed leadership attributes in the then-young Ruto.

"My son has always been on the move. I recall [in the early 1990s] when elders came and asked us to allow him to join politics. Since then, he has always moved up the ladder until now, when he has been confirmed as president-elect," she said.

"I thank God for being with him. I thank Kenyans for voting for him. This fete wouldn't have been possible with prayers only," she said.

"I'm now urging Ruto to work for Kenyans who believed in him and voted for him as the country's fifth president."

Asked on how she was feeling before the Supreme Court rendered its verdict, Cheruiyot said: "I slept at peace and left all the burden to my Lord."