President-elect William Ruto has praised Kenyans for setting "new political standards" in the just concluded General Election.
He said Kenyans had defied politics of divisions, ethnicity and tribalism during the hotly contested election that saw him declared the winner by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati.
"Kenya is setting new political standards as a democratic nation in East Africa," Ruto told congregants at Christ the King Cathedral Catholic church in Bungoma town yesterday.
"I came here today to say thank you because you joined other Kenyans in opening a new chapter in Kenya's politics void of ethnicity and divisions."
He urged Kenyans to remain calm and wait for the apex court verdict in a petition filed by Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga seeking to have Ruto's victory annulled.
According to Ruto, Chebukati refused to be bribed, intimidated and blackmailed in order to deliver a free and fair election.
"IEBC conducted transparent, free and fair election. If there is a transparent election ever witnessed in Kenya is that of 2022. The electoral commission has set a new standard of performance for all independent institutions, we urge other government institutions to emulate IEBC," said Ruto.
Just like Chebukati refused intimidation, blackmail Ruto said he was confident the courts will not be swayed because they have demonstrated their independence in the past.
Ruto also indicated that he will keep his promise to gift Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi the Chief Minister position in his government.
He added that Kenya Kwanza will need Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula in the National Assembly to help push through government policies and laws.
"I came here to ask the people of Bungoma to allow us to have Wetang'ula serve as the Speaker of the National Assembly," he told residents along Bungoma-Kanduyi road.
He said Mudavadi and Wetang'ula helped build a team that will be forming the new government of Kenya.
The DP told residents that he will deliver on the promise to revive Nzoia Sugar Company and reduce the cost of farm inputs. "Bungoma is one of Kenya's food baskets and we must make farm inputs accessible to local farmers."
He was flanked by deputy president-elect Rigathi Gachagua, Mudavadi, Wetang'ula, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and other lawmakers and MCAs.
Lusaka revealed that Ruto helped him become Senate speaker and even vie for the Bungoma governor seat after some locals viewed him as a person with no "financial muscle" in the race.
"You are more popular than me here in Bungoma. You got 24,000 votes more than me," he added.
Gachagua took issue with Interior PS Karanja Kibicho accusing him of plotting to stop Wetang'ula from assuming the Speaker's seat in parliament.
"Stopping gazettement of the senators is of no consequence in the election of the Speaker of the national assembly, we have numbers in parliament and we shall make Wetang'ula the speaker," he said.
Wetang'ula said Kenya Kwanza leadership will make its contribution by making sure Kenya remains peaceful and tranquil until Ruto is sworn in as the fifth president of the republic of Kenya.
Mudavadi said the petition at the Supreme Court is a clear indication that some people were hell-bent on snatching Ruto's victory.
"Ruto and Rigathi were ridiculed and vilified but with humility, they moved on. Pray for them and Chebukati, if there is one man who has stood firm, committed himself to the truth and ensured the country does not go to the dogs it is Chebukati," said the former vice president.
"Remain peaceful and extend humility to ensure the country remains solidly together."
