Deputy President William Ruto. He has been accused of helping Mike Sonko rig out Peter Kenneth. [Photo: Daily Nation]
Nairobi Jubilee gubernatorial candidate Mike Sonko has dismissed claims by his rival, Peter Kenneth, that he was aided to rig out the former Gatanga MP during Jubilee Party primaries held in April.
On Tuesday, during a campaign rally in Mathare constituency, Kenneth alleged that Deputy President and JP deputy party leader Wiliam Ruto helped Sonko to manipulate the nomination exercise in his favour.
The former presidential candidate said that Sonko's supporters voted multiple times resulting in a fraudulent election, which he rejected.
“Our opponent was assisted by somebody who wanted to cut me to size politically…and let's not cheat ourselves, that person is DP Ruto,” Kenneth said addressing Mlango Kubwa residents.
However, speaking when he took his campaigns to Mathare on Thursday, Sonko dismissed Kenneth’s remarks as irresponsible and disrespectful to DP Ruto.
The Nairobi Senator told Kenneth to embrace an issue-based campaign and stop inciting his supporters against other candidates.
"I have forgiven you Peter Kenneth with your pride and arrogance. If all of us – myself, yourself and Evans Kidero – incite our followers, that will amount to inciting violence in Nairobi," Sonko stated.
He also took a swipe at the former assistant minister for refusing to support him after party nominations, terming him a 'spoiler'.
"We know you as a spoiler because you fought President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 but we still forgave you and welcomed you into our party," Sonko recounted.
The Jubilee candidate recently extended an olive branch to Kenneth urging him to drop his bid and support him in ousting the incumbent Governor Evans Kidero, a call that Kenneth snubbed.