Ruto Claims One Million Voters from His Strongholds Removed from IEBC Register

Deputy President William Ruto claims that some one million registered voters have been removed from the register as part of the wider scheme to rig the August 9th general elections.

Ruto, who is eyeing the presidency under the UDA party and Kenya Kwanza Alliance, made the claims during a breakfast meeting with European Union (EU) envoys on Thursday.

Without providing any evidence to back his allegations, the deputy president noted that a majority of the affected voters are from areas perceived to be his strongholds.

“We expect that everybody who is concerned including the EU to try and get as much detail as possible both from the electoral commission and these public officials on what all this is all about and how did close to a million names disappear from the register. And many of those names are from what we consider our stronghold. It is a clear attempt to try some monkey games,” said Ruto as quoted by Nation.

While demanding answers from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Ruto appealed to the European Union (EU) and other bodies to join the quest in ensuring free and fair elections.

 “We do not believe they will succeed but these attempts are a source of concern to Kenyans. We are ready to work with the electoral commission and friends to deliver credible elections,” he added.

Kenya Kwanza alliance principal Moses Wetangula on his part raised his concerns about the preparedness of the electoral commission to conduct the upcoming elections.

 “Elections are not charged free and fair on the basis of conduct on the day of voting.  It is the entire process beginning from the integrity of the voters roll, the conduct of election officials, conduct of state machinery and so on. I know EU has been a close observer and we know you will say when you feel things are not right,” he said.