Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Sunday told the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to discharge its duties according to the Constitution and existing laws, saying no one should be favoured.
The DP said the electoral agency should not be intimidated or blackmailed by politicians ahead of the August 2027 elections, whom he claimed have ‘sensed defeat’.
Prof Kindiki said IEBC is mandated by law to carry out its roles without favouring anyone either in government or opposition.
Speaking on Sunday when he attended an Interdenominational Church Service and fundraiser for 22 churches at Kipsamoo School Grounds in Kapseret Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, the DP told the opposition to develop an agenda to present to Kenyans instead of attacking IEBC.
“IEBC does not vote. Look for a manifesto and sell it to Kenyans who will make a decision. In 2022, if IEBC didn’t stand firm, politicians would have interfered with its work and plunged the country into chaos,” he said.
Prof Kindiki said the government was not seeking favours from the electoral agency as they have faith it will discharge its mandate in line with the Constitution.
He noted that President Ruto’s impressive development record in infrastructure, electricity, education, health, agriculture and other key sectors will get him reelected and not favours from IEBC.
“We have faith in our institutions. We don’t want them to favour the government or the opposition. They should do their work and should not be intimidated, threatened or cowed by anyone,” he said.
He went on: “They should remain firm and defend their constitutional mandate. We want them to be impartial and conduct a free, fair and verifiable election and not to be intimidated by the opposition.”
He claimed that the opposition leaders had sensed defeat and were looking for excuses to justify their looming failure in the coming elections, and asked the opposition to tell Kenyans what they have for them instead of tribal rhetoric and useless slogans.
“We are going to change the face of Kenya. Those who are saying Kenyans don’t care about development are in for a rude shock. We are ready to face Kenyans eyeball to eyeball and explain to them what we have done in office,” he said,” the DP said.
The DP warned that the government would not spare anyone in the crackdown against goons in the country, saying criminal elements would not be allowed to disrupt peace in the country.
He cautioned that those who have developed the habit of using young people to attack their opponents will face it rough, as the law will be fully enforced against them.
“To all the political leaders inciting young people to violence, your days are numbered. We cannot allow our country to be a country of goons,” DP warned.
He directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who was present, to take tough action against perpetrators in the same way banditry and terrorism had been contained.
“Don’t joke with criminals. We cannot allow anyone to play with the country’s security. The way we ended banditry and terrorism, we will end goons,” DP insisted.
Prof Kindiki was accompanied by Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, Principal Secretaries Belio Kipsang (Immigration), Julius Bitok (Tourism), Governors Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu), Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok) and Stephen Sang (Nandi).
He challenged politicians eyeing seats in the 2027 polls to craft an agenda to sell to the voters instead of resorting to crooked ways that could undermine the country’s peace.
He asked the opposition to come up with alternatives to what the Ruto administration is implementing or get ready for a resounding defeat in the coming elections.
“It is not about who is more violent or who can cause harm. It is about selling your agenda to the voters and whoever wins serves all. Those who lose will live to fight another day,” he stated.
The DP enumerated the government’s successes in the various sectors in the last four years, promising more before the 2027 polls. They include infrastructure development in every part of the country, citing construction of roads, modern markets, stadiums and affordable housing units.
The agriculture sector has also been boosted through subsidies targeting high production and better earnings for farmers in the maize, sugar, coffee, tea and other key sub sectors, he noted.
Other leaders who accompanied the DP were Senators Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Kiprono Chemitei (Baringo), MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), William Kamket (Tiaty), Joseph Wainaina (Nominated), Ruben Kiborek (Mogotio), Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli and several MCAs among other leaders.
