Deputy President William Ruto has refuted claims that the Jubilee administration is using the revived war on drugs at the coast to gain political mileage, against the opposition.

Earlier, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, were criticized by the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) principals for using drug peddling war at the Coast as a political gimmick, a claim Ruto has denounced.

In his long address to the media in Mombasa while on his mission to mobilise residents to register as voters, Ruto has clarified that the war against narcotics that has intensified at the coast has been fought throughout by the Jubilee administration.

Making reference to the blow up of a ship loaded with drugs valued at Sh1.3 billion in 2014 in the Indian Ocean, a historic event that was presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery, Ruto reckoned the persistence his administration has in the war against drugs, insisting that that peddlers have a reason to worry.

"We must win the war against drugs. Those compromising the future of our youth will face the law," Ruto said during a security briefing  in Mombasa County.

Akasha brothers embroil

Just after the extradition of the Akasha brothers to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking levelled against them last week, there has been a bitter exchange of words from the two political divides – CORD and Jubilee – who are now blaming each other for shielding traffickers.

Ruto, during his Coast region tour, said officers have been given instructions on how to deal with the war on drugs and terrorism, even as claims abound that some individuals in the police force have been compromised.

Read also: AKASHA SONS EXTRADITED TO THE U.S ON SUSPICION OF HEROIN SMUGGLING

“There could be a few individuals in the police force that have been compromised by the drug barons, but a lot is happening to deal with the suspects. Action is being taken on those suspected to have been compromised by the drug dealers,” said Ruto.

Earlier, there were claims that a section of undercover police officers turned down a Sh4 million bribe offer from the Akasha brothers to cushion them. Ruto has since warned the officers of dire consequences, if found culpable.

Ruto has on several occasions said that there is no place in Kenya for those who will be found guilty of the illicit trade.

Jubilee offensive

Meanwhile Ruto has declared a war on Hassan Joho's backyard, to back the Jubilee aspirant Suleiman Shahbal for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat.

Earlier, the Mombasa based Mijikenda elders had endorsed Anania Mwaboza to unseat Joho in the coming polls, and it is not clear how the turn around has been achieved.

“Mwaboza has what it takes and the goodwill of majority of the
 indigenous communities to deliver the seat for Jubilee,” Mijikenda elders spokesman Jonas Okwaro had said  during a meeting with the press.

According to statistics held by the pollster Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Shabhal lost closely to Joho in 2013 general elections after garnering 94,000 votes against Joho's 132,583.  Shabhal will go for the seat with Anania Mwaboza as his running mate in the August polls.