Deputy President William Ruto is prepared to testify on election rigging claims he made during a tour of the United States.

His office stated that the DP was willing and ready to shed light on the claims after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) confirmed that it will be probing his remarks to establish what he knew about the said plans.

According to reports by the Nation, the DP's Director of Communication, Emmanuel Talam, told the publication that Ruto will cooperate with the IEBC as it conducts the investigations.

File image of Emmanuel Talam, Director of Communication in the Office of the Deputy President

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Ruto made the comments while addressing a congregation at the Karson Institute for Race, Peace and Social Justice at Loyola University in Maryland.

“The DP is ready to cooperate with IEBC to ensure the August 9 General Election results are not compromised,” Talam stated. 

The Communications Director further noted that it will be prudent for the IEBC to also investigate remarks by Murang'a Woman MP, Sabina Chege, and East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament, Oburu Odinga, that the deep state will ensure Raila Odinga of Azimio La Umoja wins the August polls.

He added that the IEBC should probe the two, accusing them of making remarks that were construed to mean that there was a plan to rig in Raila. Talam further noted that it is crucial for the electoral body to be thorough with their investigations as well as reigning in on politicians making reckless remarks.

“What do COTU boss Francis Atwoli and Jubilee Vice Chair David Murathe mean every time they tell the country that President Uhuru Kenyatta will not hand over power to some people? Aren’t we a democracy where voting determines leadership?” Talam posed. 

On Friday, the IEBC noted that it had launched an investigation into the Deputy President's remarks. The DP while in the US, claimed that Kenya's democracy was on trial and that he was a victim of threats, blackmail, and intimidation. 

Speaking during a meeting with the Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) and Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), IEBC Chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, noted that the commission will probe the remarks made by the country's second-in-command.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati During the Official Opening of the Political Parties Liaison Committee Engagement Forum Held On Friday, October 1

IEBC

"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," the IEBC chair stated. 

"IEBC is fully prepared for the elections and the purpose of signing the MoU today is to ensure transparency, especially in the area of the announcing of the results. I am very sure that the chances of rigging elections this year are almost nil." By Washiington Mito, Kenyans.co.ke