Ruto reveals details of State House meeting with CORD

Deputy President William Ruto has revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta had invited all parties concerned with matters surrounding the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to State House, Nairobi.

According to Ruto, the parties agreed that because President Kenyatta had a guest, they would meet at a later date to discuss how on the way forward on the IEBC standoff within the confines of the law.

“My friends, we are leaders, we are also parents, some of us are even grandfathers. How do we openly announce that we agreed to form a team of five representatives from either side (Jubilee and CORD) to dialogue on IEBC? They (CORD) made a proposal, we made a counter proposal and said we will discuss this matter at the right time. Now you (referring to CORD leader Raila Odinga) go around saying you can swear by the Bible that this is the way things will be…can we be honest with ourselves,” said Ruto in Swahili.

Ruto said that they were not opposed to talks, however, reiterating that whatever discussions they will have should be within the Constitution.

“In Parliament, there is a committee that has already been formed and looking into the issues surrounding IEBC. We will give them our views and everybody else should do the same. And if IEBC is found to be incapable of conducting a free and fair election, then the President will do what is required of him by the Constitution. And everybody must do what the constitution says, but we shall continue talking.”

Ruto was speaking during the burial of former Housing Minister Soita Shitanda in Malava, Kakamega County attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta and other top leaders from across the political divide.

Speaking during the burial ceremony, Wetangula said dialogue should be given a chance to resolve the IEBC standoff.