DP Ruto asks Raila Odinga to respect citizens' rights

Deputy President William Ruto addresses a rally at Etago, Kisii County, on October 17, 2017. He urged them to vote for Uhuru Kenyatta. PHOTO | BENSON MOMANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ruto appealed to supporters to come out in large numbers to re-elect President Uhuru Kenyatta.
  • Dr Matiang’i on his part said that the government would continue protecting lives and property.

Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday asked Nasa leaders to stop issuing demands and conditions on the repeat presidential election if indeed they had withdrawn from the October 26 poll.

Speaking during a meeting with foreign correspondents at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, Mr Ruto said it was astounding for Nasa to issue new demands on who should print the ballot papers, mode of results transmission, appointment of election management officials, and instigating demonstrations, yet they had announced their withdrawal.

POLL DEFEAT

He accused Nasa leader Raila Odinga of creating a crisis only to turn around and appeal for foreign governments’ intervention for the formation of a coalition government.

“What stops another leader from creating a crisis in other elections so that they can share power?

"What happens to the Constitution which provides that leaders are elected by the people,” he said during the forum with members of the Foreign Correspondents of East Africa.

Speaking before a campaign tour of Kuria, Kisii and Kericho, the DP said Mr Odinga was also was employing excuses to run away from a humiliating defeat “to avoid an embarrassment by majority of voters including those from areas perceived to be his strongholds who have lost faith in the Opposition".

DEVELOPMENT
During the campaigns at Etago in South Mugirango, Kisii County, he appealed to supporters to come out in large numbers to re-elect President Uhuru Kenyatta and asked Nasa to leave Kenyans alone to exercise their voting rights.

Mr Ruto, who was accompanied by Education and acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, said the Jubilee administration had developed the region.

At Kericho’s Moi Gardens, the DP wondered why Mr Odinga has kept making unreasonable demands and leading chaotic demonstrations despite having withdrawn from the presidential race.

VIOLENCE
He asked voters not to fear those planning to cause chaos that will lead to an election boycott on October 26, saying that the government was in control of security.

In Migori County while campaigning in Kuria East, Mr Ruto said Jubilee was not intimidated by Nasa’s calls for no elections if their demands are not met, saying since Mr Odinga had withdrawn, he should stop issuing demands to the IEBC as well as stop the demonstrations.

“Our aim of participating is not because we defeated Raila Odinga with a big margin, it is not because we will defeat him again but it is because we respect the Supreme Court and the democratic duty to take our country forward. We urge the Nasa people to do the same,” the Jubilee leader said.

SECURITY
He argued that Mr Odinga withdrew from the election after sensing defeat.

Dr Matiang’i on his part said that the government would continue protecting lives and property, saying demonstrations do not mean hooliganism.

Kuria East MP Maisori Gitayama and his Kuria West counterpart Mathias Robi promised the DP that the Kuria community would vote for President Kenyatta.

They also urged the government to fast track development projects in the region.

2022 RACE
The DP was accompanied by other Jubilee leaders among them Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen; Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Energy CS Charles Keter.

According to the DP, the move by Mr Odinga was also a strategy to allow him to run again in 2022 and throw off balance Nasa co-principals.

“In my honest opinion, Mr Odinga is running away from a humiliating defeat. He has to come with excuses to justify his move. It is also a strategy because he wants to run again in 2022."

POLITICAL CRISIS

He also dismissed the perception that there was crisis in the country, accusing the Opposition of having “manufactured” the situation.

“The Opposition leaders have manufactured and created a crisis because they can’t ask legitimate Kenyans for their votes and they are now creating chaotic situations to pave the way for political solutions at the expense of democracy,” Mr Ruto said, accusing Nasa of trying to make the country ungovernable for selfish reasons.

Reports by Ruth Mbula, Vivere Nandiemo and Anita Chepkoech