Kenya’s Deputy President, William Ruto has responded to an opinion poll that ranked him the most corrupt politician in the country, describing it as fake news sponsored by his detractors.

An opinion poll released by pollster Ipsos on Wednesday said one in three Kenyans (33%) perceive Ruto as the most corrupt public official in the country.

The poll, which asked Kenyans to name the two most corrupt politicians in Kenya’s history, including those that have retired, ranked former President Daniel Arap Moi at 17 percent with incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta placing fourth with 11 percent.

His predecessor, Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga each polled 5 percent.

On Thursday, Ruto who is reported to be actively campaigning to contest for the presidency in 2022, addressed the damning poll, arguing that his political opponents could not match his development record.

“When they are through with the headlines and the corruption propaganda, let us meet at the development arena of the people of Kenya because this is where the real contest is,” Ruto said.

“When my competitors are through with sponsored headlines, paid opinion polls and fake news, they are welcome to the real contest based on real mwananchi issues, SGR, roads, connecting people to electricity, equipping our hospitals and Tivets and matters of water,” he added.

The Ipsos poll which was titled ‘First Quarter Social, Political, Economic and Cultural (SPEC) Survey’, said a third of those interviewed viewed corruption as the most serious challenge facing the country.

Kenya ranked 143rd out of 180 nations in Transparency International’s 2017 Global Corruption Perceptions Index.