Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has congratulated William Ruto on his election as the president-elect of the Republic of Kenya.
In a statement dated Thursday, August 18, the Russian Embassy in Nairobi acknowledged the decision made by Kenyans through the ballot.
"The Embassy of the Russian Federation has the honour to congratulate His Excellency Dr William Ruto upon his announcement of him being elected as the President of Kenya," the statement read in part.
Ambassador Dmitry Maksimychev, who leads the consulate, expressed hope that the Deputy President's victory will not only bring continuity to the existing diplomatic relations between Kenya and Russia but also boost it.
"The Embassy of Russia is looking forward to continuing and further developing comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation with Kenya.
"We are confident that the friendly relations between our two countries and peoples will be reinvigorated and further strengthened," the statement read in part.
Russia's message came amid subtle tension between Moscow and Nairobi after President Uhuru Kenyatta's government pointed a finger at Putin over the rise in the cost of living.
In separate statements, State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena and Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna blamed Putin's invasion of Ukraine for the spike in fuel prices on the global market.
However, Maksimychev game out guns-blazing, arguing that the rise in the costs was due to the sanctions imposed on Russia by countries allied to Ukraine.
"The Russian Embassy would like to point out to our Kenyan friends and partners that the real cause of the increase in prices in Africa is not Russia's special military operation in Ukraine but the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the US, EU and their followers on Russia," the statement read in part.
The statement comes just days after the American Embassy in Nairobi issued a statement on the Kenyan election.
"The United States and Kenya share a strong partnership; we work together to improve healthcare, promote peace and security, advance human rights and strengthen our economies.
"We look forward to continuing to enhance our partnership with the government and the people of Kenya," the US Embassy noted.
