Matiang’i, Kibicho summoned over ‘22 polls readiness
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho will appear before the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence this week to shed light on the country’s security preparedness ahead of the 2022 General-Election.
The committee chaired by Kisumu Senator Fred Outa will also invite Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai and Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti to explain the security of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in carrying out future elections.
Summons by the parliamentary committee follows chaos and violence during by-elections in several parts of the country, including Juja, Bonchari, Matungu and Kabuchai constituencies as well as Rurii Ward and Lomdon wards.
Previous elections
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, in a statement to the committee wants Matiang’i and his team to tell the country the preparedness of the IEBC, security agencies and other agencies in light of what witnessed in the polls.
“It’s only 10 months before the 2022 General Election. From all indications, it looks like it is a hot seat,” a statement by Cherargei reads in part.
“What measures are we putting in place to ensure that there is no loss of life and no Post-Election Violence (PEV) will be witnessed again?”
“Is the IEBC ready to do its job? Are the security agencies prepared so that they do not make the mistakes that have been made in the previous elections and by-elections,” he went on.
The senator opined that though it is a constitutional right that every Kenyan should participate in the electoral process that is a free and fair, the preparedness of the security agencies should be re-looked at.
“We do not want to witness any chaos in Kiambaa, Juja, or Bonchari where people are misusing government machinery to stifle other candidates from participating,” he said, adding issues like protests, arrest, bribery and intimidation of voters need to be addressed.
