Ruto chides Raila on manual voter register
Deputy President William Ruto yesterday dismissed fresh demands by Azimio leader Raila Odinga on the voters’ register, saying they were an attempt to blackmail the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
On Wednesday, Raila warned that there would be no elections if the electoral body failed to provide a manual register of voters alongside the digital register on voting day.
Yesterday, Ruto accused Raila of issuing threats to IEBC after sensing defeat in the August 9 polls, asking him to step down from the presidential race instead of giving ultimatums.
Speaking in Loiyangalani, Marsabit County, Ruto, who is vying for presidency on the United Democratic Alliance ticket, said the IEBC should be allowed to hold elections without threats from any quarters. “We want to tell the Azimio people to make up their minds, whether they want to participate in this election or not. If you want to, stop giving us threats and ultimatums. The IEBC is an independent institution; it cannot take instructions or blackmail from any candidate,” the DP said.
The contest over which register should be used has become a hot potato after the IEBC said it would use the digital register as its primary tool for identification. It rejected demands to present manual copies of registers as complementary tools in case the biometric voter register fails.
Ruto said Raila was against the manual register in 2017, wondering why he was asking for it now. “You wanted an electronic register in 2017 and even went to court over the issue. Now you have changed goalposts; please make up your mind,” he said.
He told Raila to leave the race to someone else if he was not ready to face him.
“If Kitendawili (Raila) doesn’t want to participate in the elections, we cannot force him; he can step aside and get me someone else,” he added.
Supreme Court ruling
Ruto’s allies also dismissed Raila’s threats, asking the IEBC to carry out its mandate in accordance with the Constitution. Garissa Township MP Aden Duale said the Supreme Court had ruled that the digital register should be used in the polls.
“We want to tell Kitendawili (Raila) to read the Constitution. IEBC is an independent commission. Nobody is forcing you to vie for the seat; if you have sensed defeat leave the space for a hustler. Go home and retire with President Kenyatta,” said Duale.
Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki said Raila should throw in the towel if he was not ready to follow IEBC’s directions.
“He has started issuing threats. I want to tell him he cannot be a player and referee at the same time. You cannot threaten anybody. He issued threats in 2017 but elections went ahead. The IEBC is independent; he should go home if he is not ready,” Kindiki said.
Ruto also vowed to lift the curfew imposed on insecurity-hit areas if elected President on August 9. Addressing a campaign rally in Marsabit, the DP accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho and other top government officers of abdicating their duties to campaign for Raila.
“If elected I will lift the curfew within 24 hours. There is no need for a curfew, these people are just lazy! They have abandoned their duties of ensuring security to do petty politics, but we shall send them packing when we assume office” said the Kenya Kwanza presidential contender.
He added: “I give my commitment to restoring security in this region. The people of Marsabit and Moyale are like other tax-paying Kenyans and security is their right.”
Terming the prevailing insecurity in the region a “big shame”, Ruto said the residents have suffered for too long.
“It is no secret that since the ‘handshake’ government came into being, insecurity has worsened in this region, where many people have lost their lives and animals. Yet there are officers paid to ensure there is peace,” he maintained.
Outlining his election agenda, the DP reiterated that top of his priorities will be lowering the cost of living stifling Kenyans.
“In 2018, the price of fertiliser was Sh2,500; currently it is Sh6,000. A packet of maize flour, at the time, was Sh90 but it has shot to above Sh200, which is beyond the reach of many Kenyans.
