[President Uhuru Kenyatta in Kericho. He has claimed Odinga was keen on ensuring the polls are not held in August, which the constitution states.] (Nation.co.ke)
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy Wiilliam Ruto insist that the country’s general elections will not be pushed to a later date.
Speaking on Thursday in Kericho during a campaign rally, Kenyatta claimed Odinga was keen on ensuring the polls are not held in August, which the constitution states.
His talk comes days after the eruption of the printing of ballot papers scandal, which led to speculation the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission could be running out of time to adequately prepare for the polls.
He added: “But we are telling them the Constitution states clearly that the General Election must be held on second week of August this year. The Opposition will not block Kenyans from electing the leaders they want.”
He added that the country knows the elections will be in August, and have put all in place to successfully run the polls.
“For a long time, my deputy and I have yielded to numerous demands by the Opposition on how the electoral body should be reformed. They called for the disbandment of the IEBC, we gave in. They then went to court over the Biometric Voter Register (BVR), we never opposed and now they have fresh demands on the printing of ballot papers, which we are ready to let them decide on who will print them,” said the President.
He added: “We have accepted the conditions placed by the Opposition because my deputy and I want peace among Kenyans but I will say it here in Londiani that we will not accept the Opposition’s shenanigans any more. Enough is enough. We will not accept the Opposition’s schemes to postpone the General Election.”