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Saturday, July 29, 2017

Raila gossiping, rumour mongering: Omamo, Matiang'i dismiss KDF rigging claims

Security forces are being subjected to gossip and rumor mongering, acting Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has said, noting it is unacceptable.

This was his response on Saturday to claims the military will be used to rig the August 8 vote in favour of Jubilee Party.

NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga said they have evidence of an audacious plan by Jubilee and top military commanders to use force to subvert next month’s election with a rigged outcome.

He also issued a list of officers from different units, whom he claimed have been assigned the task of rigging.

KDF spokesman Joseph Owuoth confirmed the authenticity of documents on operation Dumisha Utulivu. But he noted they were quoted out of context and that the military is apolitical and professional.

Read: Raila issues list of 42 police 'deployed as agents to rig elections'

Also read: Rigging plot: Military documents don't leak, Mutahi Ngunyi says after KDF admission

But Matiang'i said it is wrong to carry such allegations as "these are disciplined officers."

"Ignore some of these things so we can go on. Ignore some of these things because they are of no basis," he told a press briefing in Kisumu on Saturday.

The CS noted KDF soldiers only ensure the country is secure and that they do not man elections as alleged by Opposition leaders.

"The government doesn't carry out elections...that is the IEBC's mandate. Ours is to secure the country and its citizens."

Defence CS Raychelle Omamo also denied the claims saying NASA's move to disclose officers names and numbers was irresponsible.

"The constitution sets out the mandate of KDF and it doesn't include rigging elections. KDF has no plans whatsoever to rig elections as alleged. We have no role in the management and supervision of the elections."

Omamo said the allegations that they intend to isolate residents in Mathere and Kibera counties were also false.

"[The claims are] untrue and should be treated as such. KDF shall not disenfranchise any citizen."

On Friday, Raila said Jubilee Party is planning to cut electricity supply in Mathare and Kibera in a new plot to rig elections.

He claimed the government is also planning to deploy soldiers to install Uhuru Kenyatta as the president if he loses the election.

"There are plans to cut power and water in these counties in the pretext of containing cholera," he told a press conference on on Friday.

He added: "The attempt by Uhuru to involve some members of our military to interfere with the August 8 election is illegal and amounts to a coup."

More on this: Rigging plot: Jubilee planning blackout in Mathare, Kibera - Raila

The Opposition has, on several occasions, accused the President of plotting to rig the poll using army. The Jubilee administration has denied the claims.

Last week, NASA released names of 42 police officers he claims have been stationed as agents to cause chaos during elections.

Opposition leader said the officers have been picked from units including GSU, Kenya Airport Police Unit, traffic and the dog unit.


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