Deputy President William Ruto has said all leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations, must commit themselves to ensuring next year’s General Elections are peaceful and credible.
Mr Ruto said President Uhuru Kenyatta has demonstrated the commitment by Jubilee leaders to engage in peaceful activities ahead of 2017 elections and asked the Opposition to follow suit.
His sentiments were supported by MPs allied to Jubilee Party who said the Opposition had sensed defeat and that’s why is was preparing ground for violence.
Mr Ruto said it is the responsibility of all leaders and Kenyans in general to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
Addressing the African Inland Church (AIC) faithful during the installation of Bishop David Kaseton and assistant Bishop Philip Loyareng to head the West Pokot region, held in Kapenguria town on Sunday, Mr Ruto said peace must be protected at all times.
“We need to be categorical and unequivocal on the issue of having free fair and peaceful election. It is our Individual or collective responsibility as Kenyans to demand that leaders commit themselves to peaceful elections and engage in non violent activities,” said Mr Ruto.
“It is the responsibility for all of us to ensure we protect peace in our country. Elections must be peaceful unconditionally. Whether individually or collectively, we should protect peace,” added the Deputy President.
Senators John Lonyangapuo (West Pokot), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) were present.
Others were Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria), Philip Rotino (Sigor), David Pkosing (Pokot South) and Governor Simon Kachapin (West Pokot)
The Deputy President warned leaders against undermining Constitutional bodies including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) charged with the responsibility of managing elections.
ruto2He said political parties and leaders should support Constitutional bodies mandated to manage elections instead of undermining their credibility.
“The law gives IEBC powers to be in charge of elections so that Kenyans can have a free hand to elect leaders of their choice,” said Mr Ruto.
He went on: “Violence is not any tool in any place especially in democratic nations. Nobody should give conditions to Kenyans that unless this and that happens, there will be this or that.
He said leaders and political parties should provide support to IEBC so that it manages the country’s elections properly.
“It is equally our responsibility as political parties and political leaders to support IEBC so that deliver credible elections and allow Kenyans to elect leaders of their choice,” said Mr Ruto.
Mr Murkomen warned that calls by the Opposition leaders to set up a parallel vote tallying system in 2017 elections would be recipe for chaos.
He said Jubilee leaders were ready to engage in peaceful activities saying failure by the Opposition to attend Leadership Summit organized by Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) on peaceful elections was an indication that they were not serious in peaceful elections.
“Jubilee will stick by law and will go by the wishes of Kenyans come the next election,” said Mr Murkomen.
He urged leaders to exercise restraint in their utterances to avoid plunging the country into turmoil.
Mr Murkomen said only IEBC is constitutionally mandated to conduct elections hence the country cannot have two referees, as this would be recipe for chaos.
“There will be no parallel IEBC to manage elections. What we should do as leaders is to further reform our Constitutional institutions mandated to run elections to carry out an exercise that Kenyans will be proud of,” said Mr Murkomen
He said the Opposition leaders were setting the stage to chaos in 2017 after sensing they were destined to lose the coming elections.
“We should strengthen our institutions so that we have a predictable country that cannot lead us to violence after every election,” said Mr Murkomen.
“We should stop dreaming of establishing parallel tallying centers and accept the one that Kenyans have put in place in the Constitution to manage our elections,” added Mr Murkomen.
He warned the youth against being misused by politicians to cause chaos during elections.
“Never again should Kenyans fight at the behest of getting politicians into the office,” said Mr Murkomen.
Senator Lonyangapuo dismissed claims that Kanu will not support the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta come 2017 General Election.
“There are some propaganda circulating here and even in Nairobi that Kanu will not support the reelection of President Kenyatta next year. In fact 99 percent of votes in West Pokot will go to President Kenyatta,” said Mr Lonyangapuo.
Mr Lonyangapuo, however, said Kanu will field candidates for various seats across the country including West Pokot.
Mr Cheruiyot urged West Pokot residents not to be misled to join political parties whose ideologies were based on tribalism at the expense of issues affecting Kenyans.
MPs Pkosing and Moroto as well as Governor Kachapin said residents in West Pokot will support the Jubilee Administration come the next elections.
“Our County had been marginalized by the previous governments. But nearly four years in power, Jubilee has initiated several development projects including construction of dams, building of Medical Training College, Teachers College and water dams for our people,” said Mr Moroto.
Mr Kachapin said the Pokot community would continue to support the Government in implementing its development agenda for the people in the area.
The Governor said he was optimistic that Jubilee Party will win the next elections going by development projects it has initiated for Kenyans.
By DPPS.