Ruto scolds Kofi Annan

By Joseph Masha

United Republican Party (URP) presidential aspirant William Ruto On Saturday accused former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan of trying to dictate who Kenyans should elect as president next year.

Ruto who took his presidential campaigns to Kilifi County said Kenya is an independent country and its citizens have the capacity to elect leaders of their choice.

On Thursday, Annan who mediated an end to Kenya’s post-election crisis in 2008, said Kenya would suffer international credibility if either Ruto or Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta who have been indicted for crimes against humanity was elected president.

“It is in bad taste for a person like Annan to travel all his way from Ghana to dictate voters on who to elect in the coming General Election and I am telling him to keep off from interfering with Kenyan politics,” said Ruto at Karisa Maitha Grounds in Kilifi town.

He was accompanied by ministers Ali Chirau Mwakwere (Environment and Natural Resources), Samuel Pogishio (Information) and MPs Joyce Laboso (Sotik), Aden Duale (Dujis) and nominated legislator Sophia Abdi.

 The presidential hopeful said leaders from foreign countries and other friends are welcomed to help in peace making for the country to go into free and fair elections, but not to impose leaders on the electorate.

“As a nation, we welcome leaders and friends from other nations to come and preach peace so that we can go hold free and fair elections. But not type of leaders who will come and give directions to the Kenyan voters on who they should elect,” said Ruto.

Even though Eldoret North MP hinted the possibility of having met the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, he declined to reveal what they discussed.

“As a presidential candidate I have the right to meet leaders from other political parties so that I can strengthen my support among Kenyans and win the seat next year,” he said.

He cautioned Kenyan youth against being used by politicians to engage in violence.