Elections will be free, fair and peaceful, says Deputy President William Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto is welcomed by an elderly woman at Cheptilel Primary School in Nandi where he issued title deeds to residents, yesterday. [PHOTO/DPPS]

The Government will ensure the 2017 elections are free, fair and peaceful, Deputy President William Ruto has said. He said the country had learnt painful lessons from the 2007/2008 post-poll violence and would not want to see a repeat of the same.

“We will create an environment of peace and leaders should give a united front,” said Ruto. The DP’s sentiments come at a time when the Opposition, CORD is actively pushing for the ouster of commissioners at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), claiming they are working in cahoots with the Jubilee coalition to rig the elections. But Ruto who spoke at Cheptilil Primary School, Tinderet constituency, Nandi County where he issued 1,035 title deeds to residents, castigated the Opposition for causing unnecessary panic.

“Political leaders must allow Kenyans to choose their leaders without clouding the electoral process with other issues with intent to influence their choice,” said Ruto.

Jungle law

On the Gender Bill that flopped on Thursday in Parliament, Ruto said it would be reintroduced.

“Jubilee government is keen on implementation of the Constitution which calls for Affirmative Action; we are building a new consensus on how we shall reintroduce the gender Bill,” said Ruto.

Ruto was accompanied by Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat, Senator Stephen Sang and MPs Julius Melly (Tinderet), Cornelly Serem (Aldai) Zipporah Kering (Nandi women representative) and David Were (Matungu). The MPs took the opportunity to castigate the Opposition on their calls to disband IEBC, saying the electoral body as a brain child of the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“Fifty per cent of IEBC is made up of commissioners who were seconded by CORD and it is telling that the Opposition luminaries are now calling for its disbandment,” said Senator Sang.

Sang pointed out that Raila and his supporters should follow the law if they want the commissioners out.

“We advise the CORD brigade to follow the due process of disbanding IEBC through a petition in Parliament and not to resort to jungle law,” said Serem.

Ruto underscored the Jubilee government’s commitment to fulfill its manifesto including ensuring electric connectivity, road infrastructure development, healthcare and educational system improvement among other development agendas. He said the issuance of title deeds would go alomg way in solving pertinent land issues. The DP said Jubilee government plans to issue 4.2 million title deeds across the country by the end of 2017. Ruto also attended a meeting at Kabiyet Secondary School in Mosop constituency where he addressed teachers and other education stakeholders.