Rachel Ruto faults independents, blames them for 'distracting' DP

Deputy President’s wife Rachel Ruto campaigned for UDA in Kericho as she shoved aside independent candidates, accusing them of distracting the DP in his presidential bid.

Mrs Ruto, who expressed confidence that her husband will clinch the presidency, argued that he would require the support of UDA-elected leaders to run the government.

She called on the electorate to support DP William Ruto in a six-piece voting pattern.

“For Ruto to ascend to the presidency, he will require solid support. That is why we require the electorate to adopt the six-piece voting,” she said.

Mrs Ruto reminded Rift Valley residents that come the August General Election, no eligible voter should be left behind.

“Just like how Mt Kenya residents came out at the crack of dawn to vote for Jubilee in the 2017 General Election, we will be happy to see Rift Valley residents coming out early on the voting day to demonstrate their support for the UDA brigade led by Ruto,” she said.

Mrs Ruto made the remarks during the Joyful Women Economic Empowerment Organisation meeting held at Kenya Highlands University Hall on the outskirts of Kericho town in Ainamoi constituency.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech and UDA parliamentary ticket holders Benjamin Langat (Ainamoi) Joseph Cherorot (Kipkelion East) and Women Rep Beatrice Kemei claimed the DP’s numbers in Parliament rescued him from an impeachment motion that had been crafted by some Jubilee leaders.

“At the height of the tension between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, there was a plan to impeach the DP but because of the support he has in the National Assembly and Kenyans prayers, the plan did not see the light of the day,” said Koech.

Koech asked Kenyans not to gamble with the presidency in the August General Election as he argued that Ruto was the right leader to be the country’s fifth president.

“We also ask the electorate to vote in all the UDA party ticket holders so that Ruto will have solid support to run the next government,” said Koech.

Langat dismissed disgruntled aspirants who fled from UDA after the party preliminaries to try their luck as independent candidates.

“We thank Ruto for ensuring UDA party preliminaries were free and fair. The electorate made their choices and it will be affirmed on August 9,” he said.

The leaders urged locals to come out on Election Day.