Deputy President William Ruto has appealed to the international community to act ahead of the August polls to prevent attempts to sway the presidential election’s outcome.
The DP said numerous government entities were attempting to manipulate the people’s decision and make decisions on their behalf, he said while speaking at the Karson Institute for Race, Peace, and Social Justice at Loyola University in Maryland.
He expressed concerns that a small group of people were attempting to play games with the rights of others and to impose their decisions on others.
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Despite Kenya’s solid Constitution, this is done through coercion, intimidation, and the use of the criminal justice system to persuade leaders and individuals to vote in a certain way, said the second-in-command.
“As a leader, I have taken the position to speak against any attempts to try and straightjacket people into predetermined outcomes. We would have expected to do this without the baggage of blackmail and intimidation that is going on but unfortunately that is where we are,” said Dr Ruto.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leader expressed concerns about Kenya’s democracy, suggesting that it is in jeopardy.
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“There is a huge pushback by citizens against any attempts to choreograph the next dispensation. We want to make our choices without being chaperoned, blackmailed or intimidated,” said the DP.
“We are looking forward to partnership of friends and people of goodwill. America has been a partner and a friend and has stood with us during the good and the bad times,” he said.
“With other members of the international community, we are looking forward to working together in that endeavour.”
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Continuing his scathing criticism of the government, Dr Ruto claimed that there is a sense that Kenya’s economy has been “carteled,” and is no longer inclusive.
He explained that with his “Bottom -up” economic approach, he will democratize the economy and bring all on board.
The DP is away on a 10-day trip to the US, UK and Dubai with a delegation of 30 people among them his wife, Rachel Ruto and key political allies.
The trip is expected to cost the taxpayer Sh107 million.
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