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Ruto says set for new electoral agency officials ahead of 2022

Monday, October 19th, 2020 00:00 | By
Deputy President William Ruto addressing wananchi in Embu Town, after attending church service at Manyatta, Embu County. Photo/DPPS

DPPS

Deputy President William Ruto has said he has no problem with whoever who will chair the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the 2022 polls.

He said the outcome of the election in which he is expected to contest the presidency would be decided by Kenyans and not the IEBC chairman or its commissioners.

“Anyone can assume the leadership of the Commission. We are ready and have confidence in our independent institutions,” said Ruto.

He was addressing a gathering at Embu Town in the company of more than 30 Members of Parliament (MPs) after attending a church service.

“They can fix any chairman or commissioner they want for the IEBC. But they must accept the outcome of the results,” he explained.

Leaders present were Embu deputy governor David Kariuki, MPs Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi), Geoffrey King’ang’i (Mbere South), Eric Muchangi (Runyenjes), John Muchiri (Manyatta), Muriuki Njagagua (Mbeere North), Cecily Mbarire (Nominated), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu) and Purity Ngirici (Kirinyaga).

Others were James Gakuya (Embakasi North), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Lydiah Haika (Taita Taveta), Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete), Millicent Omanga (nominated) and former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama.

Prof Kindiki said those against Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid can put whoever they want in the IEBC leadership. 

“But they cannot stop an idea whose time has come. This is the time for the ordinary Kenyans to define their future by having a leadership that is pro-poor,” said the Tharaka Nithi Senator.

While pledging his support to Ruto, Embu deputy governor said nothing would stop hustlers from transforming Kenya.

He said gone were the days when a few people would sit and decide the fate of the country through manipulation of election results through the IEBC.

“The Commission would only count votes of Kenyans,” explained Ms Jumwa.

Personal interests 

At the same time, the deputy president asked leaders to put aside their personal interests and serve Kenyans.

He said leaders should unite and confront challenges facing the people instead of dividing them along tribal lines. 

“We must eliminate politics that divide and create hatred and enmity among Kenyans. We must insist as a people that we want politics that unite and bring the people together and focus on the development of our nation,” said Ruto.

Mbarire said it was time the country changed the conversation in favour of the needs of ordinary Kenyans.

“Ruto, continue to stand with the common man. We would support your hustler empowerment programme for the good of majority of Kenyans,” said Mbarire.

Njagagua lauded Ruto’s bottom-top empowerment approach that he said would take care of Kenyans languishing in poverty. 

Kuria asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga to shed more light on claims by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino that there were plans to extend the President’s term in office. 

He said Owino revealed that the main objective of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was to make President Kenyatta the Prime Minister after the next elections. 

“I am waiting for Raila and the President to come out and refute these claims otherwise we will know what BBI stands for,” said Kuria.

Uhuru is on record saying that he had no intention of extending his stay in power insisting that the constitution limits a president to two  five year terms.

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