Ruto brings Bungoma town to a standstill in thanksgiving event
President-elect William Ruto returned to Bungoma on Sunday, August 27, 2022, weeks after the region voted overwhelmingly to support his State House bid.
The Kenya Kwanza Alliance leader attended a church service at Christ the King Cathedral Catholic Church in Bungoma Town, where he weighed in on the Supreme Court petitions challenging his election victory.
While expressing his confidence in the judiciary, Ruto said he believes the seven Supreme Court judges handling the matter will make an independent decision devoid of interference from external forces.
“We have confidence in the courts and we will continue to build the independence of our institutions,” Ruto said.
Insisting that he won the August 9 elections fair and square, Ruto defended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from allegations that it mismanaged the process.
"We should allow independent institutions to discharge their mandate free of intimidation, coercion and blackmail. That is how we can move forward as a democracy," he said.
Ruto storms Bungoma town
In the afternoon, the outgoing deputy president made stopovers in Bungoma town, where he interacted with his supporters, thanking them for turning up in large numbers to vote for him.
He also attended a thanksgiving event for Bungoma governor-elect Kenneth Lusaka in the Kamukuywa area.
Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua received over 60 per cent of the votes in Bungoma County in the August 9 general election.
The Kenya Kwanza duo was accompanied by a host of politicians including Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula and his Amani National Congress (ANC) counterpart Musalia Mudavadi among other leaders.
Ruto's election has been challenged in court by several petitioners including his main challenger Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition party.
