Raila will Win August Election in Round One, ICT CS Joe Mucheru Says

ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has defended his decision to back Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga in the August 9th elections.

While dismissing claims by Deputy President William Ruto’s camp that he plans to rig the upcoming presidential election in favor of Odinga, Mucheru exuded confidence that the ODM leader will emerge victorious in the first round.

“We will not require a round two vote…All indicators are that he will take it in round One. The data we have, the opinion polls available and many other factors point to that reality,” Mucheru told Inooro TV in an interview.

He insisted that Odinga, who is giving his fifth stab at the presidency, does not need to be helped to win through rigging, adding that it is technically impossible to manipulate the outcome of the election.

Mucheru claimed Odinga’s competitors have resorted to lie to Kenyans that some government officials are planning to rig them out after sensing defeat, adding that they are trying to prepare their supporters to reject the results by using State officers as a scapegoat. 

“The electoral ICT systems are ready where by August 9 we will have 100 percent internet coverage in all the 53,000 polling stations that will facilitate a free, fair and credible election right from identifying all the 22.1 million voter to casting the vote all the way to tallying and transmitting the results," he said. 

Mucheru added that he is not ashamed of his political stand, saying that Odinga’s decision to pick Nark-Kenya leader Martha Karua as his running mate has boosted his State House bid.

“The other wing (Kenya Kwanza) messed by picking the one they did (Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua)…That person is doing them no good…But it is their problem and they know why they made their decision. But Karua has excited Kenyans and added value to Mr Odinga’s contest. Many people have confided to us that they will turn out and vote because Karua is credible and represents their aspirations,” Mucheru said.

He noted that being a Cabinet Secretary does not take away his democratic right of supporting his preferred presidential candidate, adding that a court ruled in 2017 that there is no law breached when government officers make a stand that helps their regime achieve its causes.

“…Personally I cannot say that I am campaigning, rather, I am helping Kenyans stop being lied to. I am helping Kenyans arrive at the most ideal decision about their future,” he said.

Ruto’s UDA party had earlier written to the electoral commission demanding Mucheru’s resignation, claiming that he plans to use his position as the ICT minister to influence the results of the forthcoming elections.

“Ruto himself is in government and is contesting the presidency. But when it comes to complaining, they only pick on me and Interior CS Fred Matiang’i. If we should be pressurized to quit government, the calls should be fair and addressed to all of us...”

“Ruto is my senior in government and even attends the National Security Committee where I do not sit, is my senior in the cabinet…and should he summon me to brief him about the preparedness of the August 9th general elections like Odinga did recently, I would go and give him a true account of my ministry’s input so far,” Mucheru added.