Activists accuse Uhuru, Ruto of using State assets during campaign

Activists Sheila Masinde Joshua Changwony Frankline Mukwanja address members of the press on 17 July 2022 at Emory Hotel in Nairobi, on election preparedness. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

The civil society has accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto of using State resources to advance their political agenda.

The lobby groups also accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of failing to test the technology that will be used to transmit presidential results.

“There is a high misuse of public resources by President Kenyatta and DP Ruto in the presidential campaigns. There is a dual incumbency at the presidency with Kenyatta using State resources in Raila’s presidential campaigns and Ruto with unlimited access to resources that he is spending on his campaigns,” said Franklin Mukwanja, the executive director, Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD).

Mukwanja told the president and his deputy to stop using State resources to advance their political agenda.

The lobby groups further accused some outgoing governors of using public resources to influence election outcomes. 

"We are also cautioning governors to refrain from such a temptation since they shall be held accountable for their acts of omission and commission,” said the CMD boss during a joint presser with Transparency International (TI)- Kenya, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (Creco), Mzalendo Trust, Elections Observation Group (Elog) and Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (Elgia).

According to Mukwanja, all candidates should be given a level playing ground. 

Last week after issuing title deeds in Mihango at Muhuri Muchiri Stadium, Uhuru openly called on Kenyans to vote for Raila and Martha Karua.

Creco's Executive Director Joshua Changwony took issue with IEBC over its failure to inform the country whether they had conducted an audit and tested the technology that will be used in results transmission.

“Cognizant of the 2017 Supreme Court directions on election technology, we are concerned about the management and transmission of election results, as well as the testing of the requisite technology given that we are past the statutory timelines for such an exercise,” said Changwony.

TI's Sheila Masinde asked the Judiciary to conclude the hearing of cases involving clearance of candidates seeking elective seats, on time. 

She also asked IEBC to give a report on the five employees accused of illegally transferring voters.