Voter turnout in the upcoming August election will be key in determining whether William Ruto or Raila Odinga will succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta at the end of his term.
According to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, over 22 million Kenyans registered to participate in the election.
Political pundits have opined that both Raila and Ruto must have enough high voter turnout in their strongholds for them to increase their chances of winning.
The United Democratic Alliance presidential flag bearer has called on his supporters to turn out in large numbers to cast their votes.
Speaking at Nyayo Stadium on Monday, June 27, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance supremo warned those planning not to vote in August saying they will be indirectly electing the wrong leaders.
“The punishment given to people who don’t vote is to be led by fools. The moment you don’t go to vote, somebody is going to vote for a person you don’t like.” Ruto said.
The second in command challenged all eligible Kenyans to participate in choosing leaders who will change their lives.
“So, get up, pull up your socks, and go vote, and vote for the agenda that will change your life,” he added.
There has been a suggestion that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backyard of Mt Kenya will experience a low voter turnout because the region for the first time does not have a presidential candidate.
In the just concluded party primaries, political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi said DP Ruto should be worried about the low turnout during the UDA nomination in Mt Kenya.
For Raila Odinga, his traditional strongholds have always let him down in the previous elections due to low voter turnout which has been attributed to shambolic party primaries.
