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CONDEMN violence publicly, DP Ruto tells Raila

 Deputy President William Ruto has vehemently called on Orange Democratic Movement Party Leader Raila Odinga to publicly condemn political violence perpetrated during the campaign period. 

DP William Ruto at his Karen residence meeting 10 governors and over 140 MPs when they endorsed working partnership with ANC, Ford Kenya and others. He also called for ODM boss Raila Odinga to condemn political violence. Photo/COURTESY

The United Democratic Alliance party leader also warned that his party would not condone violence of any nature and called for aspirants and party members in the party to conduct their campaigns peacefully.

Dr Ruto spoke on Monday afternoon after leading a UDA-leaning Parliamentary Group (PG) which was also attended by the top party officials led by Chairman Johnstone Muthama and its secretariat. The meeting, first of its kind this year comes a few days after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati last week gazetted August 9th this year as the official election date.   

His categorical calls to Mr Odinga came amid continued calls on the security apparatus to take stern action against those who perpetrate violence activities during the campaign period.

“We want to challenge all the presidential candidates especially the ODM candidate (Raila Odinga) to clearly, firmly and unequivocally renounce violence. He has had the excuse of trying to explain the way incidences of violence perpetrated under his watch,” said Mr Ruto.

Peaceful elections

The UDA boss assured that his party will not participate in violence of any nature reassuring Kenyans of a peaceful electioneering period.  “Without blackmail or intimidation, people of Kenya should make their own choices in the elections,” the DP said.

He asked independent government institutions involved directly or indirectly in the electoral process to perform their duties void of political interference in a bid to offer credible, free and fair elections.

DP’s sentiments came barely a fortnight after his party wrote to President Kenyatta as the head of Kenya's National Security Council complaining over the security apparatus' failure to take action of violence meted on the UDA party.  The party listed several incidents which were reported to the police among them disruption of a rally at Kondele in Kisumu months ago as well as the recent stoning of DP Ruto’s entourage at Jacaranda area in Nairobi.  The letter by party’s Secretary General Veronica Maina was copied to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT, EDITED By MUSYOKA NGUI

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