The leaders who included Trade Assistant Minister Manson Nyamweya, Cord Kisii County gubernatorial candidate James Ongwae and city lawyer Joash Maangi challenged Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and his presidential running mate William Ruto to disclose their source of wealth.
“Let them tell Kenyans who is funding their campaigns because the public has a right to that information,” charged Nyamweya.
However, Mr Kenyatta’s spokesman Munyori Buku dismissed the calls, saying the law requiring parties to disclose their funding has not come into force.
“What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Let them (Cord) also be prepared to account for every coin that they spend in their campaigns,” he told The Standard on phone.
Munyori said Kenyatta and Ruto were under no obligation to account to anybody before the law comes into force.
The Elections Campaign Financing Bill, which gives effect to Article 88(4) (i) of the constitution and Section 4 (i) of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Act, seeks to provide for the regulation, expenditure and accountability of election campaigns funds during election.
The leaders were speaking in Kisii during a road show to drum up support for Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bid, parallel to another rally that was being held in the area by Uhuru and his team.
Nyamweya said Kenyans had raised issues about how the jubilee leaders were spending in their campaigns hence they should not keep mum over it.
Ongwae said the Jubilee brigade should not be pre-occupied with the age factor saying Cord had more youthful minds compared to them.
Obure said for the second time, Abagusii will vote as a block for Raila, a fete only realised in 2002 when the then Ford People leader, former Cabinet Minister Simion Nyachae stood for presidency.
The minister urged Gusii leaders who were still outside Cord to review their stand and join the winning team or wait to face the wrath of voters.
Obure who is vying for the Kisii County senate seat said Cord nominations would be fair and transparent and those peddling rumours that some aspirants have tickets in their pockets should be reminded that ODM espoused democracy as exercised by members.
Devolved governance, Ongwae said, was a brainchild of ODM and implementing the process will be achieved under Raila’s leadership. - The Standard
