Deputy President William Samoei Ruto has taken issue with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga over what he terms as the Azimio La Umoja’s presidential aspirant’s unwillingness to concede defeat should he lose in the August 9 polls.
In a statement by Hussein Mohammed, the Director of Communications at the William Samoei Ruto Presidential Campaign Secretariat, the Deputy President argues that Raila is back to his former self where he has rejected election results despite the process being free and fair.
Ruto, for a third time, has asked the former Prime Minister to publicly commit that he will accept the outcome of the presidential election results unconditionally.
The statement by Hussein Mohammed was in response to Raila’s Chatham House, UK conversation where the former Premier stated that he was ready to accept the results as long as the electoral process is free, fair and devoid of any manipulation and interruption.
Ruto did not agree with Raila on his pronouncement, arguing that aspirant’s subjective opinions should not be used as a basis for accepting or rejecting the August vote.
“Hon Odinga issued veiled conditions for his acceptance of the will of the people. He was categorical that only “IF” the election is free and fair and he wins or loses, he will accept the result,” read the DP’s statement in part.
“He again repeated “SO LONG AS, it's free and fair.” The fairness or lack of, in an election is not and cannot be determined by any candidate’s subjective opinion of the results.”
The country’s second-in-command went ahead to state that the validity of an election can only be determined by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and where disputes arise, then the court is at hand to listen and resolve them.
“Kenya has institutions to determine the validity of the election,” added the statement.
In the March 2013 and August 2017 presidential elections, Raila disputed the outcomes citing external interference by people outside of the IEBC. He filed petitions at the Supreme Court. In the 2017 petition, the Supreme Court under the leadership of Chief Justice (Rtd) David Kenani Maraga nullified the poll over what it termed as a flawed process.
The ODM leader, however, boycotted the repeat election that was held in October of the same year, handing his then competitor turned handshake partner, President Uhuru Kenyatta, a resounding victory of over 98.5% of the votes cast.
Ruto now argues that Raila is back to “his old ways” and wants to hold the country ransom once he loses.
“We have heard remarks alluding to the fact that if there was no “Handshake”, he (Raila) would have continued to hold our beloved country at ransom and made it impossible to progress peacefully despite him boycotting the repeat presidential elections and swearing himself in as president,” added the statement by Hussein.
Ruto has, on his part, stated that he will unconditionally accept the outcome of the election results and now want his competitors to do the same.
“No ‘BUTs’, No ‘IFs’. This commitment and guarantee should be made to Kenyans and the rule of law must always prevail.”
Ruto and Raila will face off in the August polls, one of the country’s most contested elections since independence. It will be the first time the two former allies in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will be going head-to-head in an election.
Raila has the backing of President Uhuru Kenyatta who fell out with his deputy after winning a re-election in 2018. The differences between the President and his deputy are so aggravated that insiders say the two do not see eye-to-eye.
