KDF has no plans to rig the elections, CS Omamo says.

Rigging claims:Defense Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo address the press in Kisumu today where she dismissed claims by NASA that KDF plans to rig elections in favor of Jubilee-Photo By James Keyi

By Dickson Odhiambo.

July 29, 2017.

KDF has no plans to rig the elections, CS Omamo says.

THE Kenya Defense Forces has vehemently refuted claims that the government wants to us its members in rigging the forth coming General Election in favor of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Defense Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo says the Ministry of defense has noted with concern the allegation contained in the statement issued by the National Super Alliance {NASA} yesterday July 28 that alleges that there is a plan by the Jubilee Administration and top military commanders to rig the election by disenfranchising a section of Kenyans and also prohibiting the participation of NASA agents in polling stations within Central Kenya is untrue.

Addressing the press in Kisumu on Saturday, Omamo who was accompanied by the Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi said they recognize that Kenya Defense Force has no role to play in the management and supervision of the forthcoming General Election slated next month.

She says KDF shall not disenfranchise any citizen who wishes to exercise his or her constitutional right to vote.

“The allegation that the Kenya Defense Force intends to isolate Kibra and Mathare areas by disconnecting power and water is false and ought to be treated as such.We urge the residents of these areas to ignore such allegations,” she says.

She however says that in order to prepare its personnel to deliver on its constitutional mandate, training of KDF is ongoing in all establishments of the KDF as a matter of routine.

“The constitution of Kenya under article 241{3}{a},{b} and {c} mandates the Kenya Defense Forces to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the republic of Kenya, assist and co-operate with the other public authorities in situations of emergency and disaster and report to the National 

Assembly and restore peace in any area affected by unrest with the approval of National Assembly. 

Section 33{1} of the Kenya Defense Force Act 2012 authorizes the deployment of the KDF in joint operations with the National Police Service or any other authority in situations of emergencies or disasters,” Omamo adds.

She says the people of Kenya expect the Kenya Defense Forces to deliver on this mandate and will fulfill the above mentioned mandate in the constitution without fear and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the law.

She further says that the Ministry of Defense views the public disclosure of the names of officers and their telephone contacts by NASA as reckless and unnecessary risks the safety of the officers and their families. Furthermore such disclosure may be exploited by hostile enemy entities such as Al Shabaab to the detriment of the officers and their families.

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi says the Government does not conduct elections and only facilitate security matters so that IEBC conduct the elections.

However Matiangi dismissed as rumors going round the he has been campaiging for Jubilee Party.

He failed to answer such a question when asked by a journalists wanted to know why he accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nyamira county yesterday while the Head of State was campaigning and instead literally walked away from the press.

 

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