President William Ruto has responded to the Azimio la Umoja chief Raila Odinga over claims that top commissioners from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) visited him during the 2022 August election period.
This after Raila, during a public rally on Sunday, alleged that IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu had at one point visited him at his home while the electoral process was underway.
“Chebukati says that there are some people who wanted to bribe him together with his friends Guliye and Molu. I want to ask you. What did you come to do in my house? What did you ask from me? And I have footage for that you play with me I will release it,’ said Raila.
In a rebuttal on Monday, President Ruto questioned Raila over the claims, demanding an answer to why the chairman of an electoral body was in his house at his invitation.
Speaking during the 16th Annual General Meeting and Conference of Africa Prosecutors’ Association in Mombasa on Monday, President Ruto noted further questioned why Raila chose to speak months after the visit and not when he had the opportunity to argue in Supreme Court.
“I was listening yesterday to one of our politicians who was alleging that members of IEBC went to his house and he is telling this story five months after the act and he is volunteering this information linked with insinuations that these officials had gone there for something he has not disclosed,” said Ruto.
“It then begs the question if it is true, what were these officials doing in your house at your invitation being a candidate how did you end up inviting officials of an independent body?” he posed.
“It also begs the question that you had an opportunity to bring up this question of alleged bribery before seven judges of the Supreme Court, you did not, you have instead chosen to take these big announcements to a political rally.”
The Head of State further affirmed that the state shall remain committed to upholding the independence of national institutions and wiping out their weaponisation.
He added that he will offer support to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to administer their roles effectively.
“We are committed to promoting an ideal environment for the revival of prosecutorial zeal guided by national values and principles of governance,” he said.
“I affirm that government will deliver on its commitment to allocate adequate resources to enable agencies throughout the governance justice law and order sector including the ODPP to perform their functions effectively and efficiently.”
