NAKURU,Kenya, Mar, 4 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati has said that the electoral body will investigate claims by deputy president William Ruto that a plot has been hatched to rig the upcoming general election on August,9,2022.
Speaking in Nakuru after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kenya media sector working group, Chebukati said that though he has heard of some of the remarks made by the DP the commission is yet to launch a full investigation regarding the matter.
“I have not read what he has said in detail but as a commission, all aspirants are bound by the code of conduct and we shall look at his statement and we shall report to the people of Kenya,” said Chebukati.
The DP has been in the United States of America (USA) for a 10 day trip that will see him also visit the United Kingdom.
“The supposed opposition leaders has become puppet of government, the leader of the ruling party is now a refugee in the opposition, so it is quite the situation. Democracy is on the ballot in this election, inclusivity is on the ballot, thestabioity of Kenya is on the ballot in this election. That’s why this election is very important,”said Ruto while in the USA.
Ruto called on the international community to monitor elections and guard against alleged rigging plans in August saying that Kenya was a beacon of democracy in the region.
His comments have meanwhile stirred up a political conversation across the divide with his opponents accusing him go being insincere and fanning doubt ahead of the polls.
“I think Ruto is trying to set the stage to dispute the outcome of the presidential elections..he said not long ago that his votes can not be stolen and even if Raila made his brother Oburu Odinga the chair of the IEBC that he would still go ahead and win.” said Mbadi who further stated,”The question I want to ask is what is Ruto telling us? Is he telling us that he has been participating in rigged elections previously, is he admitting that? And if he has not admitted that why does he think that this time elections will be stolen?”
ODM Party party leader and presidential hopeful Raila Odinga also termed Ruto’s remarks as reckless and irresponsible.
“DR. Ruto’s wild allegations that there is a plan to rig the upcoming election and claims of intimidation from the government are aimed at fanning emotions and creating tribal tensions ahead of the August elections,”
“The DP is a man who has mastered the art of putting on a show with a characteristic trait of lowering his voice, projecting himself as a humble individual before engaging in a high-level lying,” said Raila in a statement.
Meanwhile Chebukati during the signing of there MoU said that the commission is ready for the elections as he guaranteed the media access to streaming of election results at election centers.
“The purpose of the MoU today is to ensure transparency . Media will report results in the polling stations, constituency tallying centers. As a commission we are sure that the results announced at the polling station are final, they will be availed to you (media), the agents of all candidates, anybody with a phone can take a photo and do parallel vote tallying and so I am pretty sure chances of rigging elections this year are nil,” he said.
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