"I'm Just Performing My Work": Ruto Denies Campaigning for 2022 Presidential Election

Deputy President William Ruto has dismissed claims that he has been engaging in early 2022 campaigns.

Ruto says he is yet to start campaigns for next year’s presidential election and is waiting for the green light from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Speaking at his Karen residence on Monday, the deputy president said the rallies he has been holding across the country in the past four years should not be mistaken for campaigns. He said his countrywide meetings are not campaigns but meet the people tour meant to seek and understand their views on government development projects, which is part of his mandate.

“I haven’t started the campaign because the campaign period is not yet announced by IEBC. What you have seen me do is to do my mandate; speaking to people, understanding their issues, assessing the extent of our government programs,” he said.

He added: “Feedback from the public constitutes public participation and it is a constitutional provision, so when you see me in various parts of the country, it is because I am the deputy president and we have government projects all over the country.”

Ruto, who is campaigning to be president under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, has been traversing the country promising to revamp the country’s economy through the bottom-up economic model.

Last week, IEBC warned aspirants and political parties against participating in early campaigns ahead of next year’s elections.