NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 26 — President William Ruto has maintained his administration’s focus on pressing economic challenges saying he will not spare time to engage in “petty politics”.
Speaking during a church service in Mpeketoni, Lamu County, the Head of State called on residents and Kenyans at large not to involve themselves in tribal politics.
His comments, seemingly directed at his chief critic Raila Odinga, came at a time the Azimio leader, who has refused to accept defeat, continued escalating anti-government rhetoric.
“We have no time to waste over petty and unnecessary politics. We want to unite, work together and build our country,” Ruto told the congregation in Mpeketoni.
“Let us not be consumed by tribal politics. All of us, regardless of where we come from; the community we belong to; we are all Kenyans and we have only one God,” he went on.
Odinga has intensified his anti-government meetings over the impending recruitment of new electoral commission members and high cost of living.
Raila ultimatum
The Azimio leader has issued a 14-day ultimatum for Ruto to halt the impending recruitment of new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners threatening to lead his supporters in mass protests.
Odinga insisted that before poll commissioners are appointed, a bi-partisan taskforce must be formed.
“The ongoing process of reconstituting IEBC must stop immediately, and a bi-partisan taskforce must be put in place to restructure IEBC in a manner that ends its monolithic operations,” Odinga stated.
Ruto has already set in motion the process of the appointment of a Selection Panel to be tasked with the recruitment of six IEBC commissioners.
The slots became vacant after the tenure of three commissioners — Wafula Chebukati (Chairperson), Boya Molu and Yakub Guliye — came to and end.
Three others — Juliana Cherera (Vice Chairperson), Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyang’aya — resigned after Ruto appointed a tribunal to probe their conduct.
Cherera, Wanderi and Nyang’aya were part of a dissenting faction which included Irene Masit that disowned the outcome of the presidential election.
