• Mucheru attributed Azimio’s ratings to the selection of Narc-K leader Martha Karua as Odinga’s running mate.
• On Sunday, while speaking on Inooro TV, Mucheru said there will be no runoff as suggested by opinion polls and what people are saying.
Image: EUTYCAS MUCHIRI
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition presidential aspirant Raila Odinga will win the August 9 polls in round one, ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has said.
Speaking on Inooro TV on Sunday, Mucheru said there will be no runoff based on opinion polls and what people are saying.
“That's my personal view as Mucheru and not the government. I think that is why these people (Kenya Kwanza) are panicking,” he said.
Recent opinion polls have suggested a close contest between Deputy President William Ruto of Kenya Kwanza and Raila, with neither getting the required 50 plus one per cent votes.
Mucheru, however, said Ruto star had been dimming since naming Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate.
“But they have themselves to blame because they are the ones who picked him,” the CS said.
Polls conducted by the media and other research organisations show Raila gaining ground, especially in Mt Kenya, after naming former Gichugu MP and minister Martha Karua as his running mate.
Mucheru said Kenyans have changed their minds and are now supporting Azimio.
He, however, said voters will have the final say on who will be their president.
Mucheru denied claims he had been promised government appointment if Azimio wins. He said if he fails to secure a position in government, he will seek for opportunities in the private sector.
The CS said he was glad that President Uhuru Kenyatta gave him an opportunity to serve as a minister and he will be ready to leave when his term ends.
“But if they find it fit for me to serve in their government, then that will be okay with me,” he said.
He said he only fears that the government may be left in the hands of people who will reverse gains made by the Kenyatta administration.
Mucheru said he supports Raila and thinks he is the right person to continue Uhuru's legacy projects.
He dismissed claims that all CSs were supporting the Azimio and sidelining the Kenya Kwanza team.
He said CSs are also Kenyans and have the freedom to choose who they want to support.
He wondered why only Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and himself were being singled out over their political stand.
Ruto’s team, he said, is fearing it may lose the elections and are, therefore, looking for scapegoats.
There has been pressure from Kenya Kwanza that Mucheru, Matiang’i and Environment CS Keriako Tobiko resign for engaging in politics.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said Mucheru, who should be giving technical advice to the electoral commission, has taken sides.
“It is unacceptable for the person in charge of the entire police force in Kenya to purport and be partisan at this critical time,” Nyoro said.
Gachagua said the CSs should be moved to other dockets that are not related to elections.
Mucheru, however, assured Kenyans that everything at the electoral agency was set for the elections.
In 2017, there was 78 per cent of network coverage and today only 99 polling stations have no network, he said.
"For the 99, we have satellite phones, 1,500 phones and I am sure we shall have connectivity in every station,” he said.
According to the IEBC, there are about 22.1 million registered voters and about 53,000 polling stations countrywide.
The CS rubbished claims the government will influence the elections saying the winner will be determined by the voters.
He denied playing a part in the employment of Communication Authority director general Ezra Chiloba, saying the authority has a board that advertised the position and all due process was followed in picking the former IEBC executive.
“Out of all the applicants, the board said Chiloba had the necessary experience for the job,” he said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)