We need your numbers to retain power, Ruto tells Kericho voters

DP William Ruto with energy CS Charles Keter at a polling station at Sogoo primary school in ,Narok South. (Photo: Robert Kiplagat/Standard)

Deputy President William Ruto has expressed alarm over the low turnout of eligible but unregistered voters in Kericho County.

Speaking at Kapkatet trading centre in Bureti Constituency in his road tour to whip Kenyans to register as voters, the DP lamented that whereas there are at least 300,000 unregistered voters in the county, only 5,000 individuals had turned up to register in the ongoing mass voter registration exercise.

“Political parties win General Elections through numbers but why do you want to send Jubilee to a political war with the Opposition without the necessary support. Chiefs must ensure those who require national identification cards are issued with the crucial documents immediately,” said Ruto.

Responding to complaints from locals that they were being forced to offer bribes by some members of the provincial administration, the DP ordered Muktar Abdi, Kericho’s County Commissioner, to investigate the matter and take action against the culprits.

“The government will not tolerate anyone who frustrates ordinary Kenyans seeking to acquire the crucial document,” said Ruto.

At Litein town junction Ruto, who was accompanied by Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter among other senior Rift Valley leaders, gave the CS a two-week ultimatum to launch a street electrification project.

During the series of stop overs along the Kericho-Litein Road, competition for the Kericho gubernatorial race between Governor Paul Chepkwony and former National Social Security Fund Managing Trustee Richard Langat played out before the DP who responded.

“Please keep quite. I know each of the politicians have their own supporters but that is not what I came to listen to today; but to ask county residents to register as voters en mass,” said Ruto.

And the DP yesterday renewed his attacks on Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, accusing him of working for the Opposition. “Do not entertain Governor Ruto. He has given an indication of working with CORD and he should be voted out so that he can join his colleagues in the Opposition,” the DP said.