IEBC should conduct party nominations, Ruto tells CORD

Deputy President William Ruto says the Opposition should support plans to have the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) carry out nominations for various parties if it is committed to free and fair elections.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy and Amani National Congress (ANC) have in the past few weeks opposed IEBC’s involvement in party nominations, saying this would sway taint the poll body.

Ruto, however, wondered how the Opposition could trust IEBC to oversee the next elections if it does not believe that it can carry out party nominations.

“I wonder how the Opposition can trust IEBC to carry out the next election if it cannot believe in the body doing nominations for candidates seeking various seats in our respective parties,” said Mr Ruto.

Addressing residents at Likoni grounds in Mombasa County on Friday, the Deputy President said unless the Opposition has preferred candidates for various elective seats, there was no reason to oppose plans to involve IEBC in the nomination process.

Speaking at the same function, Mp Aden Duale said Jubilee will win the next General Election by a big margin, especially with the formation of a singular party.

“The move by Jubilee to bring all its affiliate parties together to unite Kenyans and the various development projects it has initiated across the country has made the party popular among wananchi,” said Mr Duale.

Coastal leaders who accompanied the DP asked locals to back Jubilee in the next General Election, adding that they will not be intimidated into working with the opposition.

“We want to make it clear that we have decided to work with Jubilee and no amount of intimidation will deter our resolve to be in the party that will form the next government after 2017,” said Ms Chidzuga.

“Mr James Orengo from ODM was minister for Lands for five years but we were not given a single title deeds. So we should not be misled by these people anymore,” said Mr Mungaro.