Ajabu Africa News

PHOTO:

NASA leader Raila Odinga with DP William Ruto

By:

PATRICK VIDIJA

Posted:

Oct,28-2017 16:04:20

Deputy President William Ruto now claims that NASA coalition hired Militia men to block the repeat of presidential election.

Ruto on Saturday exclusively told CNN that a lot of Kenyans were ready to participate in the repeat polls but were threatened by their NASA competitors.

Ruto further dismissed claims that the low voter turn out experienced in the polls was occasioned by Raila Odinga's withdrawal from the race.

He said to them majority of Kenyans had cast their vote and only a few in specific areas would not manage due to fear of their lives.

"We are reliably aware that our competitors blocked voting in some areas through violent protests orchestrated by hired militia but that does not mean that an election did not happen. The rest of the country voted peacefully," Ruto said.

Ruto said Odinga had organised Militia groups in his strongholds to intimidate and harass election officials with an aim to portray that people in his region did not vote.

He said through the organised violence, about 9 percent of Kenyans in the affected areas were denied their constitutional right to vote.

If it is true that people in his region did not vote let them remove all the militia and allow IEBC to conduct an election, they will be surprised at the overwhelming turn out," he said.

The DP said it was the worst kind of injustice to deny innocent Kenyans a chance to vote and such moves should not be allowed to go unpunished.

Ruto dismissed allegations by NASA coalition that only 3.5 million Kenyans had cast their vote.

"It is incorrect for Odinga to say only 3.5 million turned out. More than 7.5 million turned out. Odinga wants to peddle a narrative that suits his political propaganda," Ruto said.

He said the announcement made earlier by IEBC chairman indicating that only 6.5 million Kenyans had voted in the October 26 was just an estimation.

Source:

The Star