Raila, Uhuru twin attack on Ruto's rigging claim

But in an almost coordinated fashion, President Kenyatta and Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga rubbished the claim, setting the stage for the do-or-die presidential contest on Tuesday.

In a mid-morning press conference on Thursday, Ruto said Uhuru chaired a meeting at Nakuru State Lodge two weeks ago, when the rigging plot using the provincial administration was discussed. The DP spoke at his Karen residence in Nairobi.

“Recently, the President met people in Nakuru and the outcome of the meeting is not good for our country. Apart from threats to members of my team, what is emerging from those meetings is eventually the leaflets you see,” Ruto said. He referred to hate leaflets in parts of Uasin Gishu and elsewhere. 

But addressing a rally in Kisumu, an assertive Raila told Ruto to leave Uhuru alone and face him and his running mate Martha Karua directly.

“Stop shadow boxing and face me,” Raila told the mammoth rally.

The former Prime Minister said he does not need the provincial administration to win decisively.

“There is no doubt in my mind that on Tuesday, Kenyans are going to vote blue, they are going to vote Azimio...we are going to win this election through the vote of the people of Kenya,” Raila said.

Speaking in Mombasa, Uhuru branded Ruto a liar and rallied the Coast to vote for Raila.

“We want people who are led by fairness and truthfulness, not lies and insults. And those who have the ability to lead us in peace are one Mzee Raila Odinga and his deputy Martha Karua,” the head of state said.

In an earlier interview with the Star on Thursday, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho said the Kenya Kwanza team was merely seeking political mileage and had found a perceived soft spot in the Interior ministry.

“That is why you find we are not too worried. I believe that message is not for me but for somebody else since I am not running for a seat in this country,” he said.

In his press conference, Ruto named one regional commissioner and four county commissioners within the larger Rift Valley region whom he said are being used to foment chaos and ethnic divisions.

“They are the people holding night meetings to orchestrate and plan conflict amongst Kenyans and unfortunately, the President of Kenya is aware [of the meetings and their purpose],” Ruto said.

The DP also called out Inooro and Kameme FM stations for what he termed propagating hate.

Ruto said former MPs Njenga Mungai and Joseph Kiuna have been spreading narratives of violence, through the stations.

The DP said Azimio la Umoja is seeking to use the provincial administration to undermine Tuesday’s polls and appealed to the international community to address the issue.

Ruto claimed his competitors have been holding night meetings with chiefs, county commissioners and deputy county commissioners to orchestrate conflict to be used to the advantage of Azimio.

“Unfortunately, Uhuru is aware of these meetings. We are asking him to ensure the country is safe. He should stop these people from holding the night meetings,” Ruto said.

He added that Uhuru held a similar meeting in Nakuru when he was in the region and the same schemes were discussed.

“Uhuru knows what he told the meeting in Nakuru. If you talk to those who were in the meeting, they do not believe in the schemes being orchestrated. Many say they will not engage in voter bribery,” the Deputy President said.

"After the Nakuru meeting, leaflets emerged and the people behind them are well known by the state,” he said.

Ruto added that the meetings seek to create panic among Kenyans and deter voters in certain regions from voting.

With him at the press conference were his running mate Rigathi Gachagua, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok among other Kenya Kwanza leaders.

Ruto said the public officers holding the meetings are under instruction of Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho.

“The officials come and tell us what they are being asked to do,” the Deputy President said.

“All we are asking is for the country not to be pushed into unnecessary conflict because the Azimio project has collapsed,” Ruto said.

The UDA flagbearer said Uhuru should stop the meetings the same way he asked Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti to abandon the move to reopen the investigations into the 2007-08 post-election violence.

The Deputy President further asked the National Intelligence Service director general, Major General Philip Wachira Kameru, to come out and speak about the night meetings.

“The law is very clear on incitement. Action needs to be taken against those inciting people,” he said.

Ruto said it was regrettable that some Azimio leaders posted an edited video of him on Twitter that was made to look as though he was preaching divisive politics while on the campaign trail in Uasin Gishu county.

“The National Integration and Cohesion Commission and the Director of Criminal Investigations have remained silent on the matter yet Azimio leaders incited Kenyans against each other,” he said.

The Deputy President thanked Twitter for swiftly pulling down the video.

“These are some of the choreographed incidents by our competitors after they realised they have lost the election,” he said.

He said Kenya Kwanza is committed to a peaceful election and asked all other Kenyans not to go back to the 2007 post-election scenario.

“They have sponsored all manner of opinion polls to push their agenda, we have seen about 10 opinion polls being realised within two weeks, saying the same things. They seem not to believe in their own lies,” he said.

“Kenyans are looking forward to a free, fair and democratic election. It is too late for them to do anything now. Kenyans have already decided.”

(Edited by V. Graham)

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