United Opposition leaders have vowed to remain united and rally behind a single presidential candidate in next year’s election, even as they accused President William Ruto of plotting to rig the polls.
The leaders, led by DCP boss Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, accused the President and a senior IEBC official of holding secret meetings with foreign individuals as part of an alleged scheme to manipulate the upcoming vote.
They did not provide evidence but insisted the claims were serious and required scrutiny.
Speaking during a church service at Gitugi ACK Church in Mathioya, Murang’a county, the leaders claimed the President, having lost ground, is now engaging known ‘fraudsters’ to divert the will of the people.
The service was attended by Martha Karua (PLP), Justin Muturi (DP), Fred Matiang’i (Jubilee) and Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K).
Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi fired the first salvo, accusing a senior IEBC official of meeting a foreigner last week, a meeting he claimed was meant to rig the upcoming poll.
“On Saturday and Sunday, they were meeting, because Ruto knew Kenyans had left him,” he said.
Muturi, who was once Ruto’s Attorney General before being moved to head the Public Service docket, at the same time claimed that the President has held two meetings with “known fraudsters” who have a history of bungling elections in the region.
“One is a convicted fraudster on the issue of supplying election materials in South Africa and Namibia. He always comes through Eldoret airport. What is it that Ruto is discussing with these people?” he posed.
Eugene alleged that some ‘crooks’ from Venezuela are being sneaked into the country to tamper with the election’s infrastructure ahead of next year’s polls.
“We are not prepared to have another bungled election; we know those who were involved in bringing Smartmatic,” he said.
The former Defence minister warned the electoral agency to “desist from any attempts to subvert the will of the people”.
“IEBC, you have time to correct the mistakes of 2022; if they don’t listen to us, it will be upon them,” Eugene said.
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua added, “In the 2027 elections, we cannot allow it to be stolen, not at all.”
The opposition also vowed to remain united, reiterating it is the only way to defeat Ruto, who is seeking his final term in the coming elections.
Matiang’i said unity is their strongest weapon against what they termed a well-orchestrated plan to undermine democracy, pledging to set aside personal ambitions to back one candidate and safeguard the integrity of the election.
“We have reached a point where we must unite; the needs and demands of our people are much more forceful than the needs of individual leaders. This is not the time to say Kalonzo, Matiang’i, Martha and Gachagua must be the President,” he said.
“They [Ruto’s team] don’t have a path to election victory; if we unite, there will be no contest. It will be over a 70 per cent win.”
Gachagua said his party is willing to make whatever sacrifice to ensure the opposition candidate wins the presidential election.
He promised to back any candidate who would be chosen by an agreement to carry the opposition’s flag and face Ruto on the ballot.
“As DCP, we are committed to the alternative government; we will make whatever sacrifice possible to ensure we send Ruto home. Since 2002, the mountain made a decision; we will never divide our vote,” he said.
“My brothers Kalonzo, Matiang’i or my sister Martha, if the formula favours you, you will get all the votes; we will not divide this vote.”
Kalonzo also reiterated his commitment to back the candidate the opposition will settle on to fly its flag.
“As we speak now, William Ruto has no chance for a second term. If the devil does not come between us, there is no way Ruto can win this election,” he said.
“We are standing together. We are very focused.”
INSTANT ANALYSIS
United Opposition has vowed to stay united and rally behind one of their own against President William Ruto. The leaders also claimed attempts by President Ruto to rig the 2027 presidential elections.
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