'You can never get 96% in a democracy,' President Ruto says on Tanzania elections

Speaking to Al Jazeera at the sidelines of the just concluded United Nations Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) in Qatar, President Ruto said that neither will he elucidate much on the disputed election nor will he indulge in the political affairs of Tanzania.

He nevertheless opined that if democracy was upheld, Samia's landslide victory would not have occurred.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared on November 1 that Samia won with 97.66% of the votes after garnering 31,913,866 votes out of the 32,678,844 cast votes.

"It's not for me to judge Tanzania. In a democracy, for example, in Kenya, you can never get 96%. Every country has a way of doing its stuff. But I think democracy is the best governance system," Ruto stated.

"It is not always tidy, easy, because there are all manner of moving parts, but I think we must work together to ensure that we protect democracy."

The Kenyan Head of State further urged leaders to welcome the architecture of democracy to allow fair and equal representation in electoral processes, arguing that violence should not be the preferred option.

"I think we should stick to democracy, and we must always give ourselves the opportunity to listen to the alternative views without injecting violence into the equation," he added.

On Sunday, former Botswana president Ian Khama termed Samia as an illegitimate president, accusing her of rigging the polls.

"I for once do not recognize the person who was inaugurated as the President of Tanzania. She is an illegitimate president," he said during a forum in African Renaissance at Lukenya University in Makueni County. 

Disputed election.

President Samia's victory came with heightened protests mainly led by the youth and the opposition party CHADEMA, arguing that the October 29 election was flawed.

Human rights groups have reported more than 1,000 deaths, with the government disputing the figures. The Reuters news agency has also reported that 145 people have been charged with treason so far, and scores of people remain unaccounted for.

Police in Tanzania are intensifying a crackdown on participants of the election protests, as CHADEMA confirmed the arrest of its Deputy Secretary General, Amani Golugwa, days after top party leaders were taken into custody.

This comes even as 22 people were arraigned on Friday, facing charges of treason, as more families come out seeking the whereabouts of their loved ones.

Among those arraigned was social media influencer Jennifer Jovin Bilikija, who faced two charges of conspiracy to commit a crime as well as treason.

Meanwhile, the Pentecostal Voice of Kenya has condemned the killings and cases of brutality, calling on the Kenyan government to initiate diplomatic engagements to save Kenyans caught in the crossfire in the neighbouring country.

A Kenyan national living and working as a teacher in Tanzania was among those shot and killed during the unrest.

Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond confirmed that John Okoth Ogutu, 33, was killed in Tanzania and the state is taking all necessary steps to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

"It is an unfortunate incident following the commotion that was there. A contact has been created in Dar es Salaam. I want to assure the family that the case will be handled in a manner that is respectful," said Dr Omollo.