Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto now claims the agents of impunity who attempted to subvert the will of the people in the August polls wanted to plunge the country into a more chaotic scene than the 2007/08 post-election violence.
In his speech during a meeting with constitutional commissions and independent institutions, Ruto said it was the unwavering stand of three IEBC commissioners that saved the country from the abyss.
“The 2022 assault was intended to go much further and subject this country to a more insurmountable existential predicament,” Ruto said.
“In the midst of this menacing storm of violent criminality, unrelenting corruption and reckless determination to subvert the constitution, dismantle institutions and take our nation apart, a ray of courage and integrity shone hopefully,” he added.
The head of state credited IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Boya Molu and Abdi Guliye for the peace that prevailed during the precarious period in Kenya’s history.
The president revealed that a flurry of well-calculated strategies including intimidation, bribery and assassination of Chebukati was on the cards of the coup plotters.
He, however, said the minority commissioners, the secretariat and the staff rallied together and resolved to vindicate the democratic will of the people.
“At a great personal cost to themselves, they worked under extremely harrowing conditions to deliver an election which met the constitutional standard and announce results that were beyond reproach,” Ruto said.
On August 15, 2022, chaos preceded the declaration of presidential results as a number of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya luminaries and agents attempted to stop Chebukati from declaring Ruto as president-elect.
It emerged on Monday during the launch of the commission’s election evaluation report that a number of DCI officers arrived at the National Tallying Centre with the aim of abducting Chebukati but were stopped by Ruto’s security detail. The intimidation and alleged threat to their life led to commissioners Guliye, Molu and CEO Hussein Marjan fleeing to Siberia.
“We also know that they were subsequently threatened with dire consequences for them and their families if they did not do the ‘system’s bidding and overturn the choice of Kenyans. Again, we know that they stood strong and firmly said “NO!” Ruto said.
Over 1,000 people died when sporadic violence rocked the country following the disputed 2007 election results. Tensions were high on the day the 2022 results were announced after four IEBC commissioners distanced themselves from the results saying they were not verifiable.
Ruto called on all constitutional commissioners and independent institutions to ape the actions of the IEBC commissioners who resolved to do the right thing despite mounting pressure from powerful politicians.
“Commissions and independent offices are the auditors of the auditors; they watch over the watchmen. If commissions and independent offices, or their leadership or membership go rogue, the people will be on their own as things fall apart,” Ruto said.
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