NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 12 – President William Ruto has dismissed demands by the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition to halt the ongoing recruitment of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners.
President Ruto advised his archrival Raila Odinga to push for amendments in the IEBC Act if he wants to stop the reconstitution of the poll body saying he won’t allow impunity in the country.
The Azimio Coalition has distanced itself from the recruitment exercise describing it is an attempt by President Ruto to constitute an electoral commission that will favor his re-election bid in 2027.
“Those who are telling me to stop following the law and the Constitution and follow their personal requests that are not in the law. I want to tell them that I won’t do it, I am sorry,” President Ruto stated.
“If we do that, we will be promoting Impunity in the country of Kenya,” he said during a thanksgiving service in Tharaka Nithi County.
President Ruto affirmed that he will promote the law in his administration urging those who are irked by the recruitment of the IEBC commissioners to seek recourse in the law through amendments.
The President reiterated that no one is above the law and therefore Odinga cannot issue demands through word of mouth and expect the same to be headed yet the nation is guided by the principles of the law.
“Those who have an issue with any part of the law, amend that part. Once it’s amended we will all follow but as it is we will follow the Constitution as it is,” he said.
The Kenya Kwanza Alliance Leader who toured the county for the first time since he ascended to power maintained that the ongoing process of recruitment of poll body commissioners is well within the law.
President Ruto defended that the recruitment of the selection panel abided by the law as the five institutions that are required to submit names of their nominees to the IEBC panel is guided by the IEBC Act.
He dispelled the notion by the Azimio Coalition that the process is a unilateral process undertaken by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“I only gazetted the selection panel that will undertake the process of selecting IEBC commissioners. I have no preferred person that I have recommended because the constitution does not allow the President the opportunity to appoint anyone,”Ruto stated.
Azimio Demonstrations
Meanwhile, President Ruto has downplayed the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya demonstrations that are aimed to pressure him to exit from power saying it’s a futile exercise.
President Ruto stated that efforts by the Opposition Coalition to snatch his victory failed and the demonstration recourse is too weak to edge him out.
Azimio Coalition Party Leader Raila Odinga announced starting mass action up to March 20 to overthrow the “illegitimate” government of President William Ruto.
“Our country cannot continue the way these people want. They bulldozed their way through threats and still, the people of Kenya refused. They went to Bomas with NSAC to overturn the decision of Kenyans but they refused,”
“Even the Supreme Court they tried the same but it was impossible. Do you think they will manage through demonstrations?”Ruto posed.
The Head of State expressed that Odinga is known for his political arsenal of causing violence before and after every electioneering period with the aim of disrupting the sitting regime.
“You can go ahead and stage demonstrations. During the polls, they are some people who thought that they are people we are looking down on when we said ni mtu wa Kitendawili,ni mtu wa kungoa reli na maandamano. Is he not doing the same things?” the President said.
Odinga flanked by other leaders in the coalition on Thursday insisted that the Kenya Kwanza government is illegitimate, and called upon supporters to come out and take part in the protests.
He urged all workers, doctors, teachers, nurses, lecturers, students, and the business community to join in the mass action, so as to push the Ruto-led government out.
“Starting today and now I officially declare the start of mass action,” Odinga stated.
He said the mass protests will include defiance, boycotts, peaceful demonstrations, and strikes.
The mass action according to Odinga will culminate in a final meeting in Nairobi on March 20, 2023, where all the supporters will converge in the city for joint protests.
“On 20th March we have a date with destiny in Nairobi, on that day our supporters from across the country will stage peaceful protests in Nairobi against this illegitimate regime,” he said.
“Save the date and let the action begin now,” he added.
