DP William Ruto tells Cord to be sincere in demands for dialogue over IEBC

Deputy President William Ruto shakes hands with Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula during the burial ceremony for the mother of Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama on June 25, 2016. Mr Ruto called on the opposition Cord to be genuine in their demands for dialogue over the fate of IEBC. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He further stated that the Jubilee administration does not have any hard-line position on holding dialogue but insisted that the talks must be done under a proper framework.
  • He said the Jubilee wing was following the Constitution and asked Cord to respect the law and agree to the terms.
  • Mr Ruto further called on the opposition to stop demonstrations saying it was not an avenue to get change and solve issues.
  • Bungoma Senator and Cord co-principal Moses Wetang’ula, said the opposition was ready for the talks in order to decide the fate of the polls team.

Deputy President William Ruto has called on the opposition Cord to be genuine in their demands for dialogue over the fate of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Mr Ruto said the government was keen on holding talks with Cord but said the opposition was not ready to talk.

He said Cord had not yet fully decided on the composition of its team to engage Jubilee in the talks.

Mr Ruto was speaking in Chebosi, Webuye West Constituency Saturday during the funeral of Jephris Lumonya Wanyama, the mother of the area MP Dan Wanyama.

He said the Jubilee team was already constituted and was waiting for the team from Cord to be established so that the talks could commence.

“We already have our seven-member team in place and we are ready to hold talks.

“However, the Cord side have not put their team in place as certain members are unsure if they will participate in the talks or not,” he said.

NO HARD-LINE POSITION

The Deputy President further stated that the Jubilee administration does not have any hard-line position on holding dialogue but insisted that the talks must be done under a proper framework.

He said the Jubilee wing was following the Constitution and asked Cord to respect the law and agree to the terms.

He said they wanted the discussions done in an orderly manner and through institutions provided for in the law and that Cord coalition should respect that.

“We cannot hold talks in the bush. We want the talks to be guided by the Constitution and that is why we want it done in Parliament.

“We cannot have discussions outside the law. We have no hard-line position,” said Mr Ruto.

FOLLOW CONSTITUTION

He criticised the opposition for refusing to follow the Constitution in holding the talks saying they were involved in the passage and promulgation of the law in 2010 and as such should abide by it.

Mr Ruto further called on the opposition to stop demonstrations saying it was not an avenue to get change and solve issues.

He said demonstrations were only scaring away investors and also risking the lives of Kenyans who are caught in the melee.

Speaking at the same venue, Bungoma Senator and Cord co-principal Moses Wetang’ula, said the opposition was ready for the talks in order to decide the fate of the polls team.

Mr Wetang’ula stated that they were happy with Jubilee’s willingness to hold talks saying it was a way of having a credible team before the election.

“We appreciate Jubilee for coming down from their hard-line stand and agreeing to have a talk with us. We have set up a team that will be in talks [so as] to come up with a solution,” he said.