Ruto Writes Another Letter to Chebukati Over Fresh Plans to Rig Polls

Deputy President William Ruto was fighting back tears during a prayer meeting at his Karen residence on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
Deputy President William Ruto was fighting back tears during a prayer meeting at his Karen residence on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
Courtesy

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate, William Ruto, has written to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman, Wafula Chebukati, over alleged plans to rig the upcoming General Election.

In a letter dated Saturday, July 30, and made public on August 3, UDA national chief agent, Abraham Kithure Kindiki, implicated President Uhuru Kenyatta in a scheme to use public officers to interfere with the electoral process.

Kindiki argued that police officers and national government administrators were being used to compromise the August 9 votes in favour of Azimio La Umoja's Raila Odinga.

Former Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki pictured on April 9, 2022.
Former Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki pictured on April 9, 2022.
Kithure Kindiki

"We have received credible information that the Office of the President is deploying police officers to intimidate and harass voters to support the presidential candidate for Azimio," Kindiki's letter read in part.

He further alleged that the government had resorted to voter bribery by deploying administrators on the election date to compromise voters in Kenya Kwanza strongholds.

"We have also reliably learnt that the public officers may be deployed by the state to induce voters and in some cases intimidate them by compromising the peace on the election day."

The outgoing Tharaka Nithi Senator accused the Head of State of committing an electoral offence, not only by publicly endorsing a presidential candidate but also by allegedly using state resources to fund his campaign.

"Section 16 of the Public Officers Ethics Act (2003) requires complete political neutrality by all public officers and prohibits them from acting as agents for or furthering the interests of a political party or candidate in an election," Kindiki argued.

Ruto wants the Chebukati-led Commission to launch investigations into the reports arguing that it may undermine the credibility of the August 9 polls.

On Wednesday, August 3, the President, while on a tour of Kisii, termed the recent complaints by his deputy as kicks of a dying horse after realising that his presidential bid was in turmoil.

He likened Ruto to a driver of a bus who had an untrustworthy conductor who deviated his attention from the road. He added that the 'driver' ends up losing control and lands the vehicle in a ditch.

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, has also exonerated himself and his Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, from accusations that they were the masterminds of buying national ID cards and distributing inciteful pamphlets.

Former interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i addressing the media following a security meeting in Kisii on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
Former interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i addressing the media following a security meeting in Kisii on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
Ministry of Interior
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