IEBC to Commence a Probe into Ruto's Vote-Rigging Claims

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to investigate Deputy President William Ruto’s vote-rigging claims.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati says the commission’s investigations team will look into the deputy president’s remarks and give a report.

"As a commission, all aspirants are bound by the Elections Code of Conduct and we shall look at his statement and investigate after which we shall give a report. The investigations team will tell us how long that will be but we are aware that time s of the essence," Chebukati stated.

He spoke on Friday during a meeting with the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) and Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), where he reiterated the commission’s commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections. 

“As a commission, we are sure that results announced at the polling station are final and they will be availed to the Media, the agents of candidates and anyone who wants to do parallel tallying. Chances of rigging elections are almost nil this year and we are confident that any Kenyan who vote, their vote will count,” he added.

Speaking during his current tour of the US, Ruto claimed that some government agencies and a clique of individuals were planning to influence the outcome of the forthcoming elections.

“As a leader, I have taken the position to speak against any attempts to try and straightjacket people into predetermined outcomes. We would have expected to do this without the baggage of blackmail and intimidation that is going on but unfortunately that is where we are,” said Ruto.

He added: “There is a huge pushback by citizens against any attempts to choreograph the next dispensation. We want to make our choices without being chaperoned, blackmailed or intimidated.”

He made the claims while speaking at the Karson Institute for Race, Peace, and Social justice in Loyola University in Maryland, where he appealed to the US and the international community to intervene and stop attempts to rig the August 9th presidential election in favor of his competitor.