Opposition is after ‘something else’ not electoral reforms, says Ruto

Jun. 11, 2016, 3:00 pm By DPPS Deputy President William Ruto in Meru on Saturday. He has asked Opposition leaders to be sincere in their calls for electoral reforms. photo/dpps Deputy President William Ruto in Meru on Saturday. He has asked Opposition leaders to be sincere in their calls for electoral reforms. photo/dpps Facebook Twitter Google+ WhatsApp Email Pages 1 2 › » Jubilee leaders led by Deputy President William Ruto have asked the opposition to be sincere in their calls for electoral reforms. They said the government has agreed to calls by Cord for dialogue and wondered why they are now changing positions by "giving fresh conditions on how the dialogue should be done". Speaking at Mulathankari Girls Secondary School in Imenti North Constituency, Meru County on Saturday, the leaders said their opposition colleagues were after ‘something else’ and not electoral reforms. “Our friends in the Opposition wanted dialogue and as Government, we agreed to dialogue. They wanted us to speak on issues of IEBC and we have agreed. Now they are giving us fresh conditions. What is their problem?” asked Ruto. The legislators who were with the Deputy President included Kiraitu Murungi (Meru Senator), Mintika Linturi (Igembe South), Rahim Dawood (Imenti North), Florence Kajuju (Women Rep), Muthomi Njuki (Chuka-Igambangombe), David Kariithi (Tigania West), MburiApuri (Tigania East), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Gideon Mwiti (Imenti Central), KubaiKiringo (Imenti Central) and Joseph M’eruaki (Igembe North). They said it is unbelievable that leaders who played a key role in passing the current Constitution are the same ones who want business to be done in contravention of the same laws. “They had warned us not to change even a comma in the Constitution. They are now confused and want us to do business outside the parameters of the same laws they helped put in place,” Apuri said. The legislators maintained that parliament was the body mandated by the Constitution to solve issues pertaining to IEBC. The MPs took issue with Cord leadership accusing it of reneging on their promise to protect the Constitution. “The opposition wants to join the government through the back door if you do not know. It is not anything to do with reforming IEBC,” Kuria said. Kuria said the opposition came up with allegations of euro bond and insecurity against the Government but when it's mission failed, it is now trying its luck in the name of IEBC reforms. Kiraitu thanked Jubilee for giving him the opportunity to chair the 11-member team that will spearhead talks with CORD. “We are ready to negotiate with our Cord counterparts on the issue of IEBC once they are ready,” he said. “If the Opposition has no faith in Parliament, then it means it has no respect among Kenyans who elected the MPs including its own legislators,” Ms. Kajuju said. The leaders at the same time told Cord to stop tormenting the country through chaotic demonstrations adding that the country was losing up to Sh 2billion every week in terms of businesses during the protests. They wondered why the opposition leaders could not be shaken by Deputy President William Ruto in Meru on Saturday. He has asked Opposition leaders to be sincere in their calls for electoral reforms. photo/dpps Deputy President William Ruto in Meru on Saturday. He has asked Opposition leaders to be sincere in their calls for electoral reforms. photo/dpps Facebook Twitter Google+ WhatsApp Email the loss of lives and property during their recent demonstrations over IEBC matters. “How can they be trusted to lead Kenyans if they are not shaken by their protests which end up in loss of lives and property?’ posed Kuria. The Deputy President said there was no difference between the Alshabab terrorist organizations with CORD because the destruction of property and loss of lives during their attacks and protests respectively were the end results. Ruto also disclosed that seven political parties have come together under the newly formed Jubilee Party that will soon be launched. “We are serious in our determination to unite Kenyans through the formation of Jubilee Party that will accommodate all the country’s different ethnic communities,” the DP said. He said tribalism will still be the order of the day if leaders continue to align themselves along the TNA, URP, Bus party (APK) lines among other political parties. The MPs said residents in Mt Kenya region will rally behind the Deputy President to take over the country’s leadership when President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term comes to an end in 2022. Cabinet Secretaries Jacob Kaimenyi (Lands), Joe Mucheru (ICT) and Judy Wakhungu (Environment) were also present.