Decide whether to contest or manage the polls, DP Ruto tells opposition

Deputy President William Ruto has faulted the move by opposition leader Raila Odinga and Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi to oppose the audit of the voters register.

Ruto, who was speaking after attending a Sunday service in Imenti, Meru County, said that the work of managing elections in the country is the responsibility of the Independent Electoral and boundaries Commission (IEBC) and challenged the opposition leaders to choose either to contest in the elections or manage the polls.

“If they want to vie for elective posts, let them decide and come to contest with us. Let them leave IEBC to be led by professionals who have been appointed according to the Kenyan Constitution,” said the deputy president.

He advised the opposition bosses to focus on reorganising their strategy and developing policies to woo voters in 2017, adding that IEBC does not vote.

“IEBC is just a referee and IEBC is a constitutional body, IEBC doesn’t work for any individual or any political party. IEBC works for 40 million Kenyans,” reiterated Ruto.

The Deputy President said that the opposition is attempting to intimidate the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

He asked them to allow Kenyans to exercise their constitutional right of electing leaders of their choice without interference.

The opposition leaders slammed a move by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to pick KPMG to audit the voters’ register ahead of the 2017 polls arguing that the audit firm lacks the prerequisite experience and expertise of handling such a task.

IEBC secretariat led by Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba have defended the KPMG contract saying it was above board and that the company emerged top among others that were listed for the job.

The Jubilee arm of the political divide, on the other hand, has accused the opposition coalition, CORD, of micro managing the electoral process aiming to turn the favour on their side in next year’s polls.