MP Moves to Court in Bid to Block Deputy President William Ruto from Running for Presidency in 2022

Kisumu Central MP Fred Ouda's bid to bar Deputy President William Ruto from running for Presidency in 2022 is set to drag to the corridors of justice.

This comes after his petition seeking to block Ruto from vying for the country's top seat was thrown out by MPs last week. Ouda had presented the petition before Parliament on behalf of Kisumu Central residents.

“The election of the president and his deputy are intertwined. They both derive their authority directly from the electorate and as such they are only eligible to hold the office of the presidency for a maximum of two five-year terms,” read the petition.

"The individual is barred by the Constitution from vying or occupying the position of president or the position of DP for any further term. The two is one ticket. The purposive interpretation of the Constitution will therefore lead to no other conclusion than the DP position is elective,” stated the petitioners.

However, MPs led by Majority Leader Aden Duale and Minority Leader John Mbadi dismissed the petition saying it is misplaced.

“He is trying to say the DP will not contest in 2022. This is a wild dream. Ruto will be on the ballot in 2022. This House should not be used for such matters,” said Mr Duale.

“We have important things to do. They tried to introduce age limits to bar Raila Odinga from contesting now they are on Ruto.”

Speaking to journalists in Kisumu on Monday, Ouda said he will move to the court to seek its interpretation on the matter.

"I will not be intimidated by the comments that were made by Parliamentarians when the motion was rejected,” a defiant Ouda insisting that the motion was not targeting a specific person.

He maintained that the title of President and Deputy President is one and the same so when the their holders run for election and their 10-year tenure expires, they should both not seek re-election.

He said he will table the motion again before the August House after the required 60-day lapse but with amendments.