William Ruto's raids in Raila strongholds helped him clinch narrow victory

President-elect William Ruto with his wife Rachel Ruto at the Bomas of Kenya. He crossed the constitutional requirement of 50 per cent+1 mark by 69,572 votes. [DPPS]

How did Deputy President William Ruto defy the predictions of pollsters to beat his competitor, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, in the just-concluded presidential elections?

The straightforward answer is that Dr Ruto put together a well-oiled campaign machinery that helped him garner more votes in a hotly contested election whose end had all the hallmarks of a photo-finish in a 100-metre race.