We will not allow any disruption, warns Matiang’i

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi has warned politicians against intimidating the police and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of Thursday’s repeat presidential election.

Speaking during a meeting with County and Regional Coordinators at The Kenya School of Government on Monday, a tough talking Mating’i told the regional security chiefs to be firm and ensure that peace is not disrupted on October 26, the scheduled day of the repeat presidential election.

“I am going to insist this to you as chairmen of security committees, let’s be firm because some of those trying to subvert the institutions are the same people who enacted the Elections Offences Act 2016,” said the CS.

Matiang’i questioned why demonstrators would attack police officers while protesting saying: “Which part of the law allows you to hurl stones at a police station? There is a clear difference between demonstrators and rioters.”

He faulted the opposition for what he termed as partial interpretation of the law saying that all demonstrations should be peaceful.

“Some of the politicians cite Article 37 o saying the constitution allows you to picket but the same Article says the demonstrators must be peaceful and unarmed. Similarly, today is the last day that political parties can  campaign anyone who campaigns from tomorrow will be in breach of the law,” he said.

He said that the relevant security organs have put in place the necessary security measures to ensure that the electoral commission delivers a credible repeat presidential election on Thursday, October 26.

“IEBC met with the National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) last week and submitted their needs and the security agencies are ready to provide what they requested in order to facilitate them conduct a credible election,” Matiang’i said.

This comes amid calls by opposition leader Raila Odinga to his supporters to hold countrywide anti-IEBC demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We resume our picketing at IEBC offices countrywide this coming Tuesday and Wednesday. As a coalition we maintain that there will be no election on Thursday and the commission must pave way for meaningful reforms,” the National Super Alliance (NASA) leader said.