Deputy President William Ruto and the ODM leader Raila Odinga might be locked out of the August presidential race for contravening the constitution and election laws.
Through a letter dated Friday, March 11, Thirdway Alliance Kenya party leader Ekuru Aukot called on the IEBC to bar the two saying that the duo has overtly breached IEBC regulations by holding early campaigns.
“While the official campaign period as gazette by the Commission commences on or about May 29, 2022, it is in the public domain that both Willian Ruto and Raila Odinga have been all over campaigning for their 2022 presidential bids and have been making various campaign promises to the Kenyan electorate against the law,” Aukot said.
The former presidential aspirant further accused DP Ruto and Raila of using public resources in their campaigns which is contrary to the constitution.
In his letter, Aukot explained how the second in command has been using his official residence in Karen as a venue to host delegations for his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
According to Aukot, President Uhuru Kenyatta has been using public resources to organize a number of political conventions for Odinga, at State House and in local hotels, in a bid to drum up support for the ODM leader.
“An election, where some aspirants benefit from state resources is compromised and the results arising therefrom cannot be said to have complied with the provisions of the Constitution of Kenya 2010,” he said.
Aukot stated that the two grounds can lead to one challenging the August 9 presidential election at the Supreme Court.
“We urge the commission to take appropriate actions, including invoking the provisions of paragraph 9 of electoral code of conduct and more specifically bar the two from participating in the August General Election,” Aukot stated.
