DP Ruto has found himself in a catastrophic political predicament similar to what happened to Raila in last general election where he experienced a massive run-up to the 2017 elections. Dr. Ruto holds Security Minister Fred Matiang’i and his Communications counterpart Joe Mucheru responsible for Mr. Odinga’s outspoken backing.
Eugene Wamalwa and Peter Munya are two more ministers who have been campaigning for Mr Odinga. Governor Josphat Nanok who heads DP Ruto’s presidential campaign center, has already filed a complaint with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission against the appointment of Dr Matiang’i and Mr Mucheru to take control over Raila’s campaigns.
The Communications Authority which will oversee the 3G network that the IEBC will use to broadcast election results, is also within Mr Mucheru’s ministry. Wafula Chebukati who is in charge of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Body told Kenya Kwanza that the commission has no ability to discipline ministers who engage in electoral politics.
Those ministers are also not at fault legally. Ministers in the central government and their counterparts in county governments are not prohibited from participating in politics, according to section 23 of the Ethics and Leadership Act 2016. This is because they are politically elected and are responsible for developing their superiors’ policies and leadership.
Dr Ruto was at the forefront of defending the ministers in 2017 when Mr Odinga complained about Dr Matiang’i and Mr Mucheru campaigning for Jubilee: DP Ruto said that he would want to warn Raila and his Nasa comrades to leave Matiang’i alone. He alleged that they’re up against him and President Uhuru Kenyatta but Matiang’i and other ministers.
He ignored Mr Odinga’s and his fellow NASA allies’ warnings that they had lost focus and were not prepared for national elections. Dr. Ruto, like Mr. Odinga in 2017, has identified challenges that he wants the IEBC to address in order to give Kenyans confidence that the elections would be free and fair.
