Deputy President Dr William Ruto has denied allegations that he has started early presidential campaigns towards the 2022 general election.
Speaking to reporters on Monday at his official residence on Karen Street, Nairobi, Dr Ruto said the visits he had been making to various parts of the country were to inspect government projects and get public feedback on government performance.
The Deputy President explained that despite the fact that he has been wearing casual attire during the visit, there is no law that obliges him to relinquish his official duties while wearing a suit and tie.
“I have not started the campaign because the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has not officially announced the campaign period. What you see me doing is my duty as Deputy President. This is visiting the people, listening to their views and challenges and inspecting development projects and such as roads, ”Dr Ruto explained.
He said this after chairing a meeting of the Joint Council on Budget and Economic Affairs (IBEC), which was boycotted by four invited ministers.
They are Ukur Yatani (Finance), James Macharia (Transport), Peter Munya (Agriculture) and George Magoha (Education). It was devolution minister Charles Keter who arrived at the meeting which was attended by nine governors.
Dr Ruto said the issue of public participation in government affairs was a key constitutional requirement for citizens to benefit from the functioning of the government. So, he said, their responses, comments and feelings are important.
“If you see me in various parts of the country, it is because I am the Deputy President and government projects are spread all over the country and I want to get answers from the people about those projects,” Dr. Ruto added.
The Deputy President said he would start an official campaign after the IEBC officially announced the campaign period.
Dr Ruto’s statement comes after he was criticized for visiting various parts of the country, accusing the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of dreaming of entering the State House in 2022.
Similarly, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati yesterday criticized presidential candidates who have started early campaigns saying it was illegal.
