Deputy President Ruto alleges plot to rig presidential election
Deputy President William Ruto yesterday once again claimed there is a plot to rig the August 9 presidential election.
Ruto alleged to have information of some discreet plans to steal his victory but warned he had put in place watertight mechanisms to ensure it doesn’t happen.
“I know this is a tight race pitting me and the so-called system, but some people forget that even me I have been and I am part of the system,’’ he said yesterday.
Ruto said detractors who wish him and his team ‘electoral doom’ will be in for a rude shock when elections are finally held in August.
“We have relentlessly spent time wooing the people and we will not allow a fraction of capitalists to sit in a hotel and decide for us who will be the next President,’’ he declared.
The Deputy President was addressing crowds at Isebania border town in Migori county where he took his bottom-up campaign aimed at solidifying his grassroots support.
He spoke as ODM leader Raila Odinga also declared that he is leaving nothing to chance as he continues to popularise his Azimio La Umoja movement also aimed at uniting Kenyans.
Overwhelming support
Raila, too, feels re-energised after Members of Parliament allied to him and President Uhuru Kenyatta defeated the DP’s team overwhelmingly in support of the Political Parties Bill, 2021.
Ruto’s visit to Migori and particularly Kuria comes amid his endorsement on Saturday by elders in Eldoret to run for president without fear.
Yesterday, Ruto arrived at Isebania Catholic Parish shortly after 11am and joined other worshippers at the service.
He was flanked by MPs Marwa Kitayama (Kuria East), Mathias Robi (Kuria West), Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango), Vincent Kemosi (West Mugirango), and Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu).
Only Robi and Ruto were allowed to address the mourners.
Addressing residents in Isebania town, Ruto said the mational government had improved last-mile electricity connections in the region from the initial 13,000 when they took over power to 105,000 and still they will do more.
Addressing the crowd, Nyoro weighed in on Meru Senator Mithika Linturi’s ‘madoadoa’ remarks, saying the lawmaker should be pardoned, adding that the law should apply equally and not selectively.
“We want fair justice” he said.
Robi, Kemosi and Kitayama vowed to ensure they campaign for Ruto in their turfs.
Meanwhile, Migori Governor Okoth Obado was conspicuously missing during Ruto’s second tour of the county, leaving tongues wagging.
Obado who has been the DP’s pointsman in the county was conspicuously missing in several rallies in Kuria East and West constituencies.
Only the County Executive Member for Water and Natural Resources Rebecca Ghati who is also seeking to succeed Obado on the UDA ticket attended the rallies.
The last time the DP visited parts of Luo Nyanza; Obado was one of the notable personalities who flanked him, referring to Ruto as his “party leader.”
But with the ground appearing to shift in favour of the Azimio La Umoja movement, Obado seemed to beat a hasty retreat by keeping off yesterday’s events.
Embattled second-time governor recently openly declared that he was no longer working with Ruto, only months after hosting him in last year’s September tour of the Nyanza region.
Field candidates
Obado instead “clarified” that he was keen on revamping the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which he claims to be the party leader.
He went on to explain that he is a PDP member and not a UDA member, vowing to market and field candidates on the party’s ticket against UDA in the August 9 polls.
However, ODM officials in Migori, led by Jossy Olala claimed Obado was a political turncoat, who does not mean well for the dominant Orange party.”
“He just wants to confuse voters that he is not a UDA member but his PDP cohorts led by Omingo Magara are openly campaigning for Ruto,’’ he said.
ODM leadership claimed Obado will add no value to them even if he was to cross over.
Robi is on record asking Obado to abandon PDP, which he likened to a “village party” and join UDA.
“Obado is not serious at all,’’ said Robi, adding that UDA mobilisers are busy marketing the party and Ruto unlike PDP which lacked any support in the area.
