DEPUTY PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO IN BIG TROUBLE

A section of leaders allied to former Prime Minister and the Orange Democratic Movement leader, Raila Odinga, have issued fresh demands to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, over vote rigging remarks made by Deputy President William Ruto who is in a tour of the US, UK and Qatar.

Addressing a rally in Bungoma on Friday, March 4, the pro-handshake leaders led by Suna East Member of Parliament, Junet Mohamed, demanded that Ruto be summoned by the electoral commission, the same way it did when Murang’a Woman Representative, Sabina Chege, made similar claims.

During his US tour on March 2, Ruto expressed fears that there were plans to rig the August 9 polls, fears that the IEBC has termed as unfounded and unwarranted.

“In fact, if you understand a little bit of Kiswahili, that’s what informs the current push by many Kenyans to say ‘hatupangwigwi’ (we cannot be forced to take a particular stand). Meaning we want to make our choices without being choreographed, chaperoned, blackmailed, or intimidated,” stated Ruto on March 2.

On his part, the National Assembly Minority Whip asked Chebukati to take a firm stand and not to be afraid of summoning the DP to explain his sentiments.

The Raila’s righthand man claimed that Ruto had sensed defeat and that he was preparing his supporters to reject the August 9 poll results.

“I want to tell Chebukati not to fear Ruto. Call him at once the way you did with Sabina Chege because he knows that he has been defeated and he wants to reject the polls,” advised Mohamed.

The statements by the Azimo La Umoja group come after Chebukati revealed that the IEBC would investigate Ruto’s sentiments and make the report public. However, the commission did not indicate whether and when the DP would be summoned or how the investigations would be conducted.

“As a commission, all aspirants are bound by the Elections Code of Conduct and we shall look at his statement and investigate after which we shall give a report. The investigations team will tell us how long that will be but we are aware that time is of the essence,” stated Chebukati.

Ruto has come under sharp criticism from leaders inclined to the Azimio La Umoja coalition for raising issues in the US instead of addressing them back in the country.

During another interview beamed live on YouTube on Friday, March 4, the DP stated that he had made a commitment to accept the August 9 presidential election results, asking other leaders to make similar declarations.

“We have absolutely no doubt in our mind that without interfering, the IEBC has the capacity to deliver on their mandate,” Ruto stated.

Courtesy