Deputy President Dr. William Ruto was on Saturday cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to vie for the seat of the President in the forthcoming General Elections on a UDA party ticket under Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
After being taken through the procedural process on different steps at the IEBC tables hosted at the Bomas of Kenya, the DP was eventually confirmed that his documents were acceptable and declared a candidate for the seat on August 9th 2022 elections.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said that the Commission was satisfied with all the requirements presented by Ruto and therefore he was fit to vie for Presidential seat.
“As your Presidential Returning Officer I have gone through your documents presented before the Commission and I am convinced and satisfied and therefore your candidature to vie for President on 9th August 2022 is hereby confirmed,” said Chebukati amid cheers from Ruto’s supporters and leaders from his Kenya Kwanza brigade who accompanied him.
Chebukati then handed the clearance certificate to Ruto alongside his running mate Rigathi Gachagua who was right beside him throughout the entire clearance process.
The chairman further urged Ruto and his team to be compliant with the Commission’s regulations and conditions as they go on with their campaigns urging them to keep peace.
He further urged him and his brigade to honour meetings called by the Commission whether through representatives or himself appearing in person when there is need.
On his part, when he was given a chance to speak, the DP said that he was confident with the preparations and everything that IEBC is doing to deliver a credible election.
“As Kenya Kwanza we are confident with the Commission as far as the preparations for the August elections are concerned and we believe you will deliver a credible election,” said Ruto.
He however, raised a concern that a huge number of voters in the voters ranging above 800,000 had been tampered with and moved to different directions as opposed to where they are supposed to vote from originally and asked IEBC through its chairman Wafula Chebukati to be vigilant and sought out that matter.
But in his address to the media after Ruto and his team had left, when asked about the issue he said that the allegations by Ruto are not true insisting that the register is intact and soon shall be published and put publicly detailing the tallying centers from County, Constituency and ward levels.
“I would like Kenyans to Know that the voters register is intact and soon on the 9th of June we shall publish it to be released to the public hence the allegations by the DP are not true,” said Chebukati.
Ruto further went on to blame a section of media houses in the country which he alleged have biased coverage favoring a particular candidate against his candidature urging for fairness and balanced coverage for all candidates.
He went on and named some of the stations that are said to be the champions of skewed coverage asking the stations to declare their interest and their candidate of choice publicly so that Kenyans can know their stand as much as they watch and listen or read their news items.
“We have no problem with them being biased but what we want is for them to do an honourable thing to declare their stand as to which candidate they are supporting in this election so that as the citizens watch or listen and even read their news they already know their position as to whom they are supporting,” said Ruto as he spoke before the IEBC at Bomas of Kenya.
Ruto became the fourth candidate to be cleared after Walter Mong’are, Professor George Wajackoya of the Roots Party and David Mwaure Waigiga of Agano Party who was cleared on Saturday morning shortly before DP Ruto was ushered in.
On Sunday, 5th June 2022, Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance political party’s Presidential flag-bearer Raila Amolo Odinga and his running mate Martha Wangare Karua will be presenting their documents before the Commission at Bomas of Kenya.
