KDF to work with police during August 8 polls – Gov’t

The government has denied claims by the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) that the Jubilee regime is planning to use the military to rig the August 8 polls.

Defence Cabinet Secretary, Raychelle Omamo, has termed the claims by NASA presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, and his running mate, Kalonzo Musyoka, as untrue and irresponsible.

“The constitution sets out the mandate of KDF, that mandate does not include rigging the elections. We reject such allegations. We are not there to do unlawful things and we do not want to be dragged to the putrid miasma of political engagements. We want to be apolitical and professional, the way KDF has always been,” said Omamo.

Speaking in Kisumu during a joint media conference, CS Omamo and her acting Interior counterpart, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, the CSs said Kenya Defence Forces are free to be deployed across the country for security purposes.

“The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has no role to play in the management and supervision of the General Election, this is the sole responsibility of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).”

“Section 33(1) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act 2012 authorizes the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces in joint operations with the National Police Services. We will discharge our constitutional mandate properly and lawfully for the people of Kenya,” added Omamo.

The defence CS further indicated that they have not seen the evidence in documentation that Odinga alleged to have in his possession instead insisting that they have no plan to rig the elections and that they intend to discharge their mandate to the betterment of the country.

On his part, Matiang’i refuted claims that the government is planning to cut electricity and water supply in Mathare and Kibera slums here in Nairobi in a plot to rig elections.

“It is unfortunate that our country, five decades after independence, we are here saying something that should be a straight forward matter of common sense. With the kind of respect we have for our defence forces, now they are being dragged into irrelevant arguments and politics where they do not belong,” said a seemingly furious Matiang’i.

“The government does not conduct elections, they are conducted by IEBC. Ours is to facilitate the commission discharge its mandate and all we do will be through the guidance of IEBC and the law.”

While terming NASA’s claims as baseless, Matiang’i urged Kenyans to ignore these statements in a bid to foster peace in the country.