![Deputy President William Ruto addresses church leaders he hosted at his Sugoi home in Uasin-Gishu County on Saturday, July 4, 2020. [PHOTO | K24 DIGITAL]](https://i0.wp.com/www.k24tv.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/RUTO.jpg?resize=730%2C414&ssl=1)
Deputy President William Ruto now says the opposition is pushing for a “Yes and No” referendum so that its members and a section of those in Government can steal State funds.
Speaking in Mathira Constituency, Nyeri County on Saturday, October 31, the deputy president said the referendum would cost less money if all Kenyans agree to adjust the Constitution, compared to when there are opposing sides in the referendum.
According to the DP, crafty members of the opposition and those in Government want to have “Yes and No” sides in the referendum so that a bigger budget would be allocated to the exercise, and, as a result, “more money will be available to steal”.
“We are asking those who are pushing for the referendum to stop being proud, arrogant, forceful and pompous. We want to have a BBI conversation, which has the input of everyone, hence a common voice across Kenya,” the DP said during his tour of Mathira Constituency Saturday.
“We shouldn’t divide Kenyans along political ideologies. We know that there are people who are brokers, conmen and are in the business of earning from political impasses. They are working hard to ensure the referendum has the yes and no sides. They would have, thereafter, created a conducive environment to steal State funds under the pretext that the monies went fully to the referendum,” Ruto said.
“I want to tell such people: ‘shame on you, and you are useless’. Why would you want to create two opposing sides to a referendum, yet we, as Kenyans, are ready to have dialogue, be on the same page and, as a result, use less funds to hold the referendum? We know you want a contested referendum so that you can steal our money,” said the deputy president.
The deputy president’s remarks come amid disagreements between ODM leader Raila Odinga and IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati over the cost of the BBI referendum.
Chebukati estimates that the exercise will cost Ksh14 billion, whereas Odinga says the referendum cannot cost more than Ksh2 billion.
