All IDPs will get cash, DP Ruto pledges

Deputy President William Ruto returned Jubilee campaigns to Kisii region on Thursday, with a message that all displaced persons would be compensated.

Mr Ruto, at the same time, insisted Jubilee Party would not be involved in the search for a new printer for ballot papers, after the High Court nullified the contract awarded to Dubai-based Al-Ghurair.

“We will not be in any of those committees. We will equally not hold meetings with anyone. All we are waiting for is the ballot papers on August 8,” he said.

TENDER
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has since appealed the ruling that nullified the tender for printing presidential ballot papers.

Speaking in Nyaribari Chache, Mr Ruto said opposition leaders were “better placed to attend the meetings”.

“Nasa are known tenderpreneurs, they can do meetings with them and decide who will be awarded the tender to print the ballot papers,” he said.

MONEY
At the same time, Mr Ruto, just like his boss, was confounded with complaints that compensation for people displaced by the 2008 post-election violence was not forthcoming.

The President last month directed that IDPs in Nyamira be given Sh470 million and those in Kisii receive Sh380 million.

Known as integrated IDPs, this group lost their homes following the violence but opted to live with their relatives.

COMPENSATION
But the group has often complained that the government forgot about them.

Mr Ruto reassured the IDPs that anyone who was left out of previous pay outs would be compensated.

“Even those whose names were left out of the compensation list will get their money,” he said.

DOMINANCE
He pleaded with Kisii residents to vote for President Kenyatta and local Jubilee leaders.

Kisii is one of the counties where Jubilee is keen to consolidate its support.

In the last elections, the region predominantly voted for ODM.  

In Kisii, ODM leader Raila Odinga got 236,831 (68.8 per cent) votes while President Kenyatta garnered 95,596 (27.8 per cent) votes.

VOTERS
In Nyamira County, the President garnered 54,071 (29.8 per cent) votes against Mr Odinga’s 121,590 (67.1 per cent).

Nasa and Jubilee are keen to get the support of the more than 700,000 registered voters, according to the latest IEBC figures.

Accompanied by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Mr Ruto said Jubilee would ensure all Kenyans vote, adding that the party would resist attempts to frustrate IEBC.

TIMETABLE
Speaking earlier at Manga and Ekerenyo grounds in Nyamira County, Mr Duale told IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati that nothing would stop Kenyans from voting on August 8.

“If you want to go to court go, call all meetings you want to, but Kenyans must vote come August 8.

"Even if you go to the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court, Kenyans must vote on August 8, according to the Constitution,” he said.