Nakuru County residents have been told by Deputy President William Ruto that there will be peace before, during, and after the August 9 General Election.
Following a meeting with neighbors, the UDA chairman urged Kenyans seeking seats to commit to peaceful campaigning.
Residents of Njoro, Molo, Kuresoi, and Elburgon, who met with the DP and other Kenya Kwanza officials yesterday, raised concerns about likely election chaos in their communities.
Rigathi Gachagua, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, Njoro MP Charity Kathambi, Bahati’s Kimani Ngunjiri, and Senate candidate Tabitha Karanja were among Ruto’s supporters.
The meeting, which lasted more than six hours, was closed to the media. At the occasion, speaker after speaker claimed to be enjoying their best lives.
“We have had fears and we keep asking ourselves what will happen if we give the Deputy President this seat. Will he take care of us? That has been our fear. That is why in this area, we are hesitant to support you,” said Mr John Macharia.
The issue of land and displaced persons also cropped up, with locals calling on Ruto to promise to he will address their issues should he succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Mr Peter Gikonyo said displaced people in Molo were never compensated. He said there are fears hostilities could return as the campaigns peak. He told the Kenya Kwanza brigade that their hearts are heavy for fear of the unknown.
“Give out an order immediately you get elected so that those occupying land that was not allocated to them can vacate it,” he said.
While assuring the residents of peace, Ruto called on Azimio la Umoja One Kenya flag bearer Raila Odinga and other leaders to condemn political violence.
The DP said he made a major sacrifice in 2012 when he dropped his presidential bid to support Uhuru for the sake of peace. He assured locals that the August poll will be orderly and peaceful, saying the country had learnt lessons from the 2007-2008 post-election skirmishes.
He revisited the Sunday chaos that preceded his rally at the Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi’s Embakasi area, blaming it on Raila.
Ruto said he had written a letter to Raila asking him to come out and condemn political violence. The UDA leader claimed that most of Raila’s strongholds were hotspots of political chaos.
“If there is one promise I want to make to you is that Kenya will be peaceful. I will ensure peace prevails across the country,” he said.
The DP said he whatever the outcome of the elections, there will be peace. He called on Raila to make a public commitment that he will embrace the outcome of the August 9 vote.
“The violence could be a strategy to reject the outcome of elections. Votes will not count if you leaders caused chaos and made people fight,” Ruto said.
