Kenya 2022 Elections: Ruto Should Substantiate Rigging Claim

 

By Nkwazi Mhango, Manitoba, Canada

Dear Mr. William Ruto,

For the first time, I touch base with you. Allow me a wee bit of your time to the following important issues that resonate with you individually and Kenya in general. Since you fell out with your boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, many things have occurred. All started when he shook hands with his former nemesis, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on 9^th March, 2018. We all understand you didn’t support this milestone for the duo and Kenya. However, your boss said that you’re informed about everything but later, you started complaining that his move had destroyed your dalliance, which gave birth to a very fake marriage known as UhuRuto. To cap it all, you recently alleged that Kenya’s coming general election will be rigged to favour Odinga. These are damningly serious allegations that can’t be swept under the rug.

            Mr. Ruto, due to the above unsubstantiated rancorous allegations, you and some of your lieutenants have alleged that the coming election will be rigged in favour of Mr. Odinga since he’s backed and supported by your boss. Can you please tell us what we don’t know that you know? How spot-on are such allegations? Speaking at the Karson Institute for Race, Peace and Social Justice in Loyola University in Maryland USA, on 2^nd February, 2022, you’re quoted as saying that “as a leader, I have taken the position to speak against any attempts to try and straightjacket people into predetermined outcomes. We would have expected to do this without the baggage of blackmail and intimidation that is going on but unfortunately that is where we are” (Sic). Seriously?

            Because of those true/imagined dreads, you recently announced that you’ll launch your parallel tallying centre in the August election despite knowing that it is illegal and unconstitutional. To jog your mind, Odinga was quoted as saying that in “last election [2017], when we demanded to be allowed to set up a parallel tallying centre, he [Ruto] is on record saying that would be unconstitutional. Now he is saying he is going to set up a parallel tallying centre so he is basically living in contradictions.” Who’s telling the truth/lies between you and Mr. Odinga?

Mr. Ruto, by creating doubts about the credibility of votes, do you mean that you won’t accept the results shall you not be declared a winner even without actually winning?  Are such allegations pre-emptive move to complicate things? Don’t you know its ramifications?! Have you easily forgot the 2007/08 bloodbath and bad politics? Have you forgotten the ICC saga Sir? Are you serious or just seeking sympathy from voters after sensing defeat? More importantly, the sage’s it that nothing should be done in a hurry except catching fleas. Similarly, what’s good for the goose’s good for the gander.

            Mr. Ruto, thanks to the above catch-22, there are some issues we’d like to get straight in order to be the part of the solution to this narrative. Again, are you crying foul because the shoe is on the other foot, or do you’ve any believable evidence to substantiate your allegations? As the President to be––––conditionally and strictly if you make it––––you need to show believability and probity in whatever you do or say or stand for. Again, are you ready to make public your evidence on the matter?

            Honourably and scientifically, please address the issue of rigging. Similarly, allow me to humbly ask you the following questions: Why’d Odinga rig if he won three elections without rigging since he didn’t have the instruments of power or being the part of government? What’s changed? Did he win or not? Refer to Moses Kuria (MP for Gatundu, South), who’s recently quoted as saying “we are the ones who maintained Uhuru, and we are the ones who used to steal votes for him.” The bolded words back Odinga’s allegations that his three wins were stolen.

            Mr. Ruto, don’t you see that the truth that Odinga won three aeras and his victory’s stolen needs to be well-thought-out before making such allegations? How, if the government that conducted and presided over the election was UhuRuto’s? Based on that, don’t you see that Kuria’s exposé speaks to the facts that Odinga had the numbers, which he still has plus the backing of the outgoing president, thus will easily defeat you without necessarily rigging? If he won solo three times against two presidents, what’ll stop him from winning fair and square provided that the backing by Kenyatta speaks to the addition of ballot to Odinga’s ballot hamper?

            More importantly, why’d Mr. Odinga rig the coming poll against one person while he’s able to beat three people in the allegedly rigged elections prior? Though we don’t support rigging since it can cause troubles for the country, we think that any allegations made without substantiation are likely to show that those making them have already sensed defeat. We might be right or wrong on this. Chinese proverb’s it that he who strikes the first blow admits he’s lost the argument.

Mr. Ruto, are you implying that you’ve underscore the fact that you’ve already lost the argument not to mention elections? If he were able to rig the election[s]–––if indeed this holds water––––why then did he lose three elections after being rigged out as you know? I don’t believe so; and I’d not like this to be the case. Thus, let’s be a wee bit fair to ourselves and Mr. Odinga and his backers. Kenya’s bigger and more important than us individuals.  

            In sum, let’s be fair to ourselves and others as we seek to maintain the cohesion, peace and stability Kenya’s enjoyed as the result of the handshake. If you lose just shake hands and try another time instead of thinking it’s the end of the world. Politicians come and go, and Kenya will always be there. Let’s also be truthful to our people and the country at large. Mr. Ruto, since you’re in the know, please divulge your evidence in order to unearth his dangerous and ghoulish scheme against the constitution and justice. Submit them to the authorities. Italians have proverb that never point out the mistakes of another with a dirty finger. Enough is enough. Let presidential contestants put their houses in order before making damning allegations. Mr. Ruto, can you please present your evidence to substantiate your claims? How’ll the coming elections pan out? Please clear the air before that. Blessed be and embark on clean and patriotic politics.

Source: African Executive Magazine today.