‘Raila has no reason to terrorise country with demos’ – Ruto

President William Ruto now says Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga is not justified to call for mass action in the country.

Speaking during a church service at Kapsabet Showground in Nandi county on Sunday, March 19, the Head of State said he had listened to Raila's grievances and arrived at the conclusion that the opposition leader has no reason to "terrorise" the country with demonstrations.

Ruto insisted that Raila's claims on the outcome of the last presidential election, the ongoing process to recruit new electoral commissioners and the cost of living were insubstantial.

“My friend, honourable Odinga, does not have any reason to make us fight, hold demonstrations and violence. He has no reason whatsoever. That is just his philosophy over the years and we know him. He cannot change his stance,” Ruto said.

He added: "I have tried to listen to him. He is telling us he doesn't believe in IEBC, he doesn't believe in the Supreme Court, he believes in a whistleblower and that is the reason he wants to terrorise the country with violence and chaos. He is telling us that he wants to decide who will appoint the IEBC, he doesn't want the law he doesn't want the constitution."

President Ruto was responding to Raila's claims that Azimio was rigged out in the last election and the opposition leader's reservation over the ongoing process to recruit new commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

On the cost of living, Ruto insisted that the subsidy the opposition leader is pushing for is only meant to benefit cartels.

He said he is ready to engage any politician in the country provided the talks centre on the future of the country and fall within the provisions of the constitution.

“You are not going to threaten us with ultimatums and chaos,” he said, adding that he won't succumb to impunity.

Ruto assured the country that the government has put in place several measures to protect lives and property.

“The police will do their job according to the law, they will ensure the rights of everybody are protected: those who want to protest and those who want to go about their businesses and their jobs,” he said.

Raila is expected to lead mass protests in Nairobi on Monday to protest against the government's refusal to address Azimio's grievances.