Ruto, Raila Clash on Twitter over Removal of IEBC Commissioners from Office

President Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga have once again clashed on social media over the removal of the four IEBC commissioners who disowned the results of the August 9th presidential election.

In a late-night tweet, Ruto reaffirmed his decision to suspend the four election officials and the formation of a tribunal to investigate their conduct during the last general election.

He also told off Odinga for planning public rallies to protest the suspension and removal of IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera and commissioners Irene Masit, Francis Wanderi, and Justus Nyang’aya, who have since resigned.

“Even with the system/deep state you lost the election. Stop deluding yourself & lying. The coup to overturn the people's will using rogue commissioners, you are now threatening us with maandamano about, failed. Their guilt or innocence will be determined by tribunal. Rule of law it is,” Ruto told Raila in a tweet.

Hours later, Odinga responded to Ruto by sharing a video of the president disapproving the results of the 2007 general election, where the late former President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner by the electoral commission.

“Usijifanye leo hii kwamba umesahau (do not pretend today that you have forgotten) when the shoe was firmly on the other foot. Let me just leave this here,” Raila captioned the video.
 
On Friday, Odinga announced he will hold a series of rallies to oppose the removal of the commissioners from office, terming the move as a plot by Ruto to rig the 2027 presidential election.

“We wish to remind Mr Ruto that this country has had a system like the one he is trying to reinvent. We fought that system. We brought down that system. We will do so to the one he is inventing now. We will bring it down…Let us all stand up for our country before it is too late,” Raila said.