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Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has accused Deputy President William Ruto of misleading Kericho residents that they will be part of the Opposition if they vote for the Kanu candidate.
Gideon and a cross-section of Rift Valley leaders including Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto pointed out that Kanu is not part of the Opposition and is deeply entrenched in the Jubilee coalition.
"For those in doubt, I want to state categorically that Kanu signed a memorandum with Jubilee coalition partners that formed the Government after the March 4, 2013 General Election," Gideon said.
Campaigning for Kanu candidate Paul Sang in Lesirwo, Kipkelion West Constituency yesterday Gideon also said that the March 7 senatorial by-election is not a contest for the Presidency nor the deputy presidency.
He added: "We want leaders who are accountable to the people and who deliver on their promises. The Kanu candidate in the Kericho senatorial race (Sang) has the best qualities to represent voters in the region. I appeal to all leaders to vote for him."
The leaders also appealed to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure that a free and fair election prevails.
Governor Ruto alleged that the Government had hatched a plot to rig the election in favour of Jubilee candidate Aaron Cheruiyot after sensing defeat.
"Jubilee is planning to rig the election since they have realised that they have no support on the ground with the people questioning the skewed allocation of resources and appointment of relatives to top Government positions," Ruto said.
The leaders said that they were not taking advantage of the Kericho by-election to divide the Kalenjin.
"This is not about the 2017 or 2022 General Election. Kericho residents are fatigued by false promises by the Jubilee administration and that is why they have opted to support Kanu in the by-election," Ruto said.
Ruto said the contest was not about zoning the Rift Valley or fighting any particular leader as those supporting Sang were championing the people's rights and seeking to expand the democratic space in the region.
"All Kenyans irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds or political affiliation have a right to representation and equitable sharing of resources," he said.
Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo accused the DP of employing propaganda and intimidation in the Kericho senatorial campaign. "Kanu is a Jubilee coalition partner and when the DP claims that by not voting for a Jubilee party candidate, the residents would be voting for the Opposition, that is false," he said.