The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition second in command, Martha Karua, cautioned President-elect William Ruto against being proud yet.

Karua was speaking on Friday in Kirinyaga, where she also lambasted Ruto for ushering in defectors from the Azimio coalition to his Kenya Kwanza Alliance in a manner she termed illegal.

Karua said it was unfortunate for Ruto, who is a Deputy President and President-elect, to break the laws of the country.

She faulted Ruto for disregarding the Constitution when he sought the support of leaders elected on independent tickets and those from other parties.

According to Kaura, Ruto grossly ignored the law and the Political Parties Act when he wooed and enticed leaders from other parties and independent tickets without requisite legal provision.

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“It is unfortunate for a person who aspires to lead the country, and for somebody who is the deputy president of the outgoing government, to break the laws of the country,” Karua said.

“There is the Political Parties Act under which coalitions are built, which stipulates very clearly that anybody leaving a coalition, there is a process. For the DP to start wooing people and enticing them to leave a coalition without the requisite legal provision is either a display of impunity or gross ignorance of the laws of the land.”

“Starting to woo members of the Azimio coalition and announcing they have defected to his side. Is it that he has not read the Political Parties Act or he regards the law as nothing?” she posed.

While reiterating the Azimio coalition’s intention to challenge the presidential election results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chabukati on Monday, Karua cautioned Ruto against being proud yet and stop celebrating early as the matter is still headed to the Supreme Court.

She emphasised Azimio coalition will abide by the rules and will accept the ruling of the Supreme Court whether they are in agreement or not because they are law-abiding citizens.

“As Azimio, once we take our legal challenge to the court, whatever the outcome, that is the end of the journey. That’s the way our Constitution is, it may not be perfect, but we promise to abide,” she said.

“We always abide by the rule of law, even when we disagree with a ruling, we either take next steps or if it’s the final we accept it. So, to those people who do not understand the law, relax, stop bragging and the day is yet to come.”

Karua also noted Ruto’s political moves were akin to KANU's tyrannical days when democracy was not tolerated.

“It is premature for somebody to start trying to disorganise political parties illegally, unlawfully and I would urge Kenyans and members concerned to be warned. I also urge the DP of an outgoing government to acquaint himself with the laws of the land or ask his advisers for a better interpretation,” Karua said.

The former Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs was speaking against the backdrop of a section of politicians who were elected on independent tickets and those whose parties were affiliated with the Azimio coalition defected to Ruto’s camp.