Deputy President William Ruto yesterday vowed to ensure police officers do not meddle in politics if elected President in next month’s General-Election.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate who was concluding his three-day tour of Kiambu County claimed that police officers were being used to advance political interests.

While describing police as patriotic Kenyans who, if empowered, can better maintain law and order, safeguard peace and protect property, Ruto committed to make the Kenya Police Service a respectable department.

Insurance cover

Speaking in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backyard in Gatundu South, Ruto, who was accompanied by, among others, his running-mate Rigathi Gachagua, Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi and local MP and Chama Cha Kazi leader Moses Kuria, vowed to give the police better remuneration if he wins the election.

“We have agreed with our police officers that they will not again be used to advance political interests. They will be reputable men in uniform and persons with a noble job of ensuring there is peace in the country and as Kenya Kwanza, we will equip them to ensure they run a professional police service. We will accord them good terms of service, give them better insurance covers and a good pay to detach them from politics,” he said.

The DP, who toured Gachororo village in Juja, Gatundu Town, Mang’u Primary in Gatundu North, Thika Town and Witeithie, claimed his rival Raila Odinga was pretending to be Uhuru’s defender yet they have never supported him in past elections.

Personal data

The presidential candidate said only Kenya Kwanza has a serious plan for the country and urged Kenyans to rally behind his candidature. He promised to use Sh50 billion to empower small and medium enterprises in the country.

“We have a clear plan that will see us enhance activities in agriculture, housing, manufacturing, leather, textile among other sectors. We will set aside Sh200 billion to create jobs for our people,” he said.

Ruto’s allies led by Gachagua accused the ministries of Interior, Information and Communications of scheming to rig the August 9 election by collecting personal data of Kenyans using the local administration officers such as chiefs.

Gachagua claimed the plan was intended to help Raila win next month’s election.

“Chiefs have been instructed to look for at least 30 people every day who are paid Sh1,000 in exchange for giving out their phone numbers which will receive text messages requesting them to vote for Raila. Chiefs should not be used to seek votes for Raila,” said Gachagua.

Muturi said the government should not compete against Ruto and should allow the DP to fight it out fairly with his rivals.

“The government will not be on the ballot. Only Ruto and Raila will be on the ballot. We want to warn Mucheru against the Ajira government platform advertisement that intends to hire citizen photographers in every polling station. That advertisement should be left for the competing political parties and not the government,” he said.

Other leaders who accompanied Ruto are Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and his Kikuyu counterpart Kimani Ichung’wah.