Deputy President William Ruto attacks NASA leader Raila Odinga in a tweet

Raila Odinga and William Ruto (Photo: Courtesy)

Deputy President William Ruto has launched a scathing attack on the National Super Alliance (NASA) leader, Raila Odinga, hours after his (Raila) media address at the Panari Hotel in Nairobi.

In a tweet, DP Ruto asked how long the former Prime Minister would take to accept defeat in elections.

“For how long will one man, unable to win elections, continue to blackmail 45m Kenyans using threats of violence, chaos, bloodshed and anarchy,” read Ruto’s tweet.

Ruto also defended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), noting that the electoral body is protected by the Constitution.

He added that no one should threaten the IEBC commissioners in any way or form.

“Every kenyan,those at IEBC included have the protection of the Constitution. Nobody,however mighty ,should threaten them in any way or form,” stated Ruto.

Raila linked Ruto to the squabbles that have befallen the IEBC following the nullified presidential poll.

He wondered why Kenyans would trust the IEBC as currently constituted to conduct another poll, claiming that there were individuals in the electoral agency that should be removed.

Speaking during a press conference at Panari Hotel, Raila claimed that the IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba worked with Mr Ruto.

"Why should Kenya trust these institutions? Is it because the IEBC went to a retreat and buried their hatchet? Is it because Safran gave itself a clean of bill? Is it because IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba answered the Chebukati memo and gave it to DP William Ruto?" asked Raila.

Raila also accused Safran Morpho of engaging in discussions with IEBC officials to manipulate the August poll.

He stressed that that the company’s KIEMS kits that were used cannot be trusted to run another election.