Kenya Kwanza allies mock Constitution, call for Ruto-only ballot

President William Ruto’s allies in his native Rift Valley region are digging in for his re-election, with some suggesting he must win the 2027 race by all means possible.

In the latest potentially controversial remarks, Pokot South MP David Pkosing called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to omit the names of other presidential candidates from next year’s ballot and retain only that of President Ruto.

“IEBC, munisikie vizuri! Hii mwaka inakuja 2027, kwa kura ya president, tunataka debe moja pekee yake ikuje West Pokot, debe moja. Hatutaki debe ya wale wengine,” said Pkosing.

Pkosing told those planning to unseat President Ruto to look for alternatives.

“Wale wengine wapeleke debe yao mahali wanajua. West Pokot tunataka debe moja ya William Samoei Ruto,” added Pkosing.

His remarks come days after Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei made controversial pro-Ruto re-election remarks during the President’s tour of his North Rift backyard.

On Monday, President Ruto kicked off his 10-day tour of Nandi and Uasin Gishu counties. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei was at it again with his proposal to extend presidential term limits.

“Na sisi 2027 hatuongelei ushindani. Waanze kuongea mambo ya 2032. Na wakikosa kujipanga, Rais, wakikosa kujipanga, vile hawajipangi, mimi nitarudi na ile kumi na nne supuu, uendelee, ushinde,” he said.

The “kumi na nne” reference relates to the senator’s proposal to change the presidential term from five years to seven years.

On the same day, during a campaign trail in neighbouring Uasin Gishu County, Sudi repeated controversial remarks that have often irked opposition leaders and their supporters.

“Sisi tuko na kura milioni tano. Na mnasikia kila siku mimi nasema isipojaa tutajaza, na nyinyi mtajaza harambee, tutam, “ he said.

Meanwhile, President Ruto, who toured West Pokot and Trans Nzoia counties on Wednesday, trained his guns on Linda Mwananchi leaders, singling out Equitable Party leader Edwin Sifuna and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.

“Niliona mwingine Mr Empty, alienda kulaunch chama inaitwa The Empty Party, akatoka hapo akaenda moja kwa moja mpaka kwa bar. Mara ya mwisho tulimwona na Kofi Olomide na meza imejaa pombe kali ile ya jina mbili mbili, sijui Johnny Walker, sijui Johnny Natembeya, sijui nani. Huko ndiyo tulimwona mara ya mwisho,” said Ruto.