Ruto allies claim State plot to aid Raila
Politicians allied to Deputy President (DP) William Ruto have alleged a scheme by top security agents and their bosses to rig 2022 presidential elections in favour of Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Falling short of announcing a boycott of the 2022 polls, the legislators allege that rigging plans involving security forces to aid ODM leader to win the presidency are underway. The lawmakers are training their guns on Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and his principal secretary Dr Karanja Kibicho.
Others targeted are Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti, Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Philip Kameru.
In a sustained attack on Matiang’i and Kibicho, Ruto’s allies maintained theduo was using their offices to support Odinga.
President’s approval
Led by Kandara MP Alice Wahome, the legislators claimed State officers and public officers were openly campaigning for Raila cannot do it without the approval of the President.
They cited Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary Silicy Kariuki who joined Raila on Saturday during his campaign blitz in Nyandarua County.
Besides, the huge amounts of money drawn from the Ministry of Interior, Ms Wahome noted the amount is approved by none other than the president himself.
“These public officers cannot be doing all these without the signature of the President Uhuru Kenyatta, I want to tell him (President) that he is lighting fire in the country by using public resources to campaign for Raila Odinga,” Wahome said asking the Head of State to steer clear of his succession so as to create a fair political platform to carry out elections.
He went on: “With what is happening currently there is preparation to rig presidential elections in favour of Raila Odinga, they are using State machinery to rig elections and apply resources in favour of one candidate,”
The Mps included Caleb Kositany (Soy), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Rehema Jaldesa (Isiolo Women representative), John Waluke (Sirisia), Johana Ngeno (Emurra-Dikir) and Anab Mohamed (Garissa Women representative). Others at the press conference included George Murugara (Tharaka), Nasra Sahal (Nominated), and Halima Mucheke (Nominated) Soipan Tuya (Narok Women representative).
Senators Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Christine Zawadi (Nominated) , Cornelly Serem (Aldai), Florence Bore (Kericho Women Representative) among others addressed the press conference.
In the run to 2017 general elections, NASA on several occasions claimed of having evidence of a plot by ruling Jubilee Party to use the military and extra ballots to rig the poll.
But President Uhuru dismissed the claims, accusing Raila of looking for scapegoats because “he is not ready” for elections. Fast forward, Ruto allies who have since dumped Jubilee Party for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are in the shoes of their NASA counterparts.
Gachagua, while calling out CS Matiang’i for his allegiance to ODM leader said that “Matiang’i is partisan and any election management he is part of cannot be free and fair.”
“I want to ask the President to call to order Matiang’i and Kibicho. They have all purposes abandoned their work, and joined Raila’s campaign machinery,” Gachagua told a press conference at Parliament Buildings.
The Mathira MP accused Kibicho of diverting all funds meant for security intelligence to fund Raila’s 2022 State House bid and paying Kikuyu musicians to attend and entertain people in his rallies. On his part, Senator Cherargei asked CS Matiang’i and PS Kibicho to leave office concentrate on Raila’s campaigns and allow other Kenyans to serve the country.
Raila’s campaigns
But CS interior has affirmed that he will not be intimidated by the resignation calls from DP allies. Matiang’i defended himself and his ICT counterpart Joe Mucheru, saying that they will not be intimidated by the resignation calls from DP allies as their work is only to create a conducive environment for the upcoming 2022 General Elections.
“We, in the security sector, do not conduct elections – that is the mandate of the IEBC,” Matiang’i said.
