Friday, May 6, 2022 –Government has responded to Kenya Kwanza coalition concerns that there are plans to rig Azimio-One Kenya Alliance leader Raila Odinga into power.
ICT Cabinet Secretary, Joe Mucheru, who was addressing the press on Thursday May 5 asked Deputy President William Ruto and his lieutenants to calm down because no one is planning to rig him out and that elections will be run by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC and not the Ministry of ICT.
Mr. Mucheru added that, just like any other Kenyan, he has a right and freedom to choose and campaign for whoever he wants ahead of the August 9 elections. He said that being a CS does not stop one from voting on August 9.
Mucheru was speaking this after the Ruto-led brigade took issue with his sentiments in Nyeri County over working closely with Mr. Odinga.
“Some of us are working behind the scenes to ensure the systems are working and we are obviously working with Baba.” – Joe Mucheru, Cabinet Secretary for ICT and Youth said.
But the CS has now said that Ruto’s team was in great panic after the latest opinion polls from Trends and Insights for Africa TIFA placed Odinga at 32 percent against Ruto’s 39 something that Ruto’s team never expected.
“I saw the polls have come out today and maybe the numbers are not looking good and people are looking for excuses. I am a minister and I am allowed to endorse a candidate I choose,” he stated.
The cabinet minister went on to state that his ministry will continue working with the electoral body to make sure elections run smoothly and that this will also make sure credibility is not compromised.
“We provide policy and assistance to IEBC. For Networks, they get it from the telecom operators and broadcast from the media,” the CS added.
Mucheru, therefore, urged the Ruto-led camp not to read much into his campaign utterances because he will not be stopping to campaign for Odinga if need be. He reminded the DP that in 2017, cabinet ministers were ordered to join campaigns and the DP never raised any concerns and instead supported the cause.
