United Republican Party presidential candidate William Ruto yesterday opposed the IEBC's decision to do away with the Biometric Voter Registration and called on the Cabinet to intervene and resolve the matter.

Speaking in Siakago town, while on a campaign, Ruto, said a return to the old system of voter registration is tantamount to returning the country 2007-2008 election chaos that saw thousands of Kenyans lose their lives and hundreds displaced. Ruto, who was accompanied by Manyatta MP Emilio Kathuri and Siakago URP parliamentary seat aspirant G.K Ruku, said with a return to the old system of registration, it will be a repeat of the last election where names dead voters were on the voters roll.

The Eldoret North MP said the decision by IEBC to use the manual registration of voters was a recipe for election rigging. "We cannot allow such a situation like to be repeated," he said. The presidential aspirant who was also with the party's chairman Francis ole Kaparo, said one of the recommendations of the Independent Review Commission (IREC) that investigated electoral malpractice following the controversial December 2007 elections led by Justice Johann Kriegler had said the only way to avoid rigging was use of biometric system.

Kaparo, said the system was being used the world over and Kenya did not have to remain behind in technology. Kathuri and Kamwaro had condemned the adoption of the manual system claiming that some politicians must have been behind the move. "I know politicians. As a past speaker of the national assembly I understand all their tricks. Thus this manual system should be rejected," said Kaparo.

Ruto said if elected president would ensure that every youth and woman manages to earn a honest living. Ruto said he came from a humble family background and wanted the presidency to develop the country. He addressed rallies in Embu, Manyatta and Runyenjes.