Deputy President William Ruto went on a long tirade against President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), George Kinoti, over the state's investigations into the entry of election materials through the personal luggage of three Venezuelans working for the IEBC.
Speaking on Sunday, July 24, at Kapkatet Grounds, Kericho County, Ruto noted that the Head of State ought to focus on his retirement in two weeks and should steer clear of the August 9 poll.
He accused the President of being behind the recent saga where state agencies have accused the electoral commission of being lax in handling election matters - including breaking customs laws when procuring materials relating to the General Election.
" You (Uhuru) have two weeks as the president of Kenya and it is your constitutional duty to ensure we have a free and fair election. Please, don't allow the security agencies to intimidate the IEBC. Don't confuse your duties as the Azimio chairman and as the president of Kenya," Ruto reiterated.
Further, the DP castigated DCI Kinoti over the arrest and subsequent investigation of three Venezuelans who were found carrying election materials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The DCI had initially arrested the foreigners over questionable luggage in their possession but the IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati came to the foreigners' defence, insisting that they were IT experts.
"What is his name? the guy called Kinoti should stop what he is doing over the recent political stunts. There's nothing that he has done in his docket aside from political theatrics. He runs to publish cases in newspapers and drafts long letters on social media platforms. Kindly, spare us the time and leave matters to IEBC. You have no business in IEBC. You have failed as the DCI, we do not want you to fail our elections. "
"He has angered the Kenya Kwanza coalition and we want to warn him to stop interference with election matters. He was given the mandate to conduct investigations to which he has failed. So stop the theatrics and give IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati space to conduct elections. Wait for August 9 so that you can go home," he ranted.
Ruto alongside his Kenya Kwanza brigade urged Kericho residents to vote for the coalition as a united front in the upcoming elections.
The Coalition's deputy presidential candidate, Rigathi Gachagua put the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, to task over his recent declaration to not attend the presidential debate. He instead invited him to a conference to discuss matters of corruption and the issues that Kenyans face on a day-to-day basis.
"I invite the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate, Raila Odinga to a land grabbing conference to discuss the matter so that the public can finally know the truth," Gachagua stated.
The fiasco between the IEBC and the DCI on the arrest of the three Venezuelans has taken stage in the past two days. Chebukati had alleged that the trio was tasked to aid IEBC in deploying Kiems kits across the country.
On the other hand, DCI Kinoti, in a detailed statement, questioned why no IEBC officials were present at the airport to receive the foreigners and the highly confidential materials.
In a strongly-worded statement, Kinoti accused Chebukati of being dishonest about the mission of the three foreigners who denied ever working for IEBC, yet the commission defended them as its staff.
