UDA Nairobi governor candidate Johnson Sakaja has asked chiefs to reject any attempts to be used by state operatives to mobilise support for Azimio la Umoja one Kenya.
Senator Sakaja claimed that the state through Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho was allegedly using chiefs to advance selfish political interests ahead of the August 9 General Election.
Speaking after attending church service in Kasarani, Nairobi, yesterday, he appealed to voters to reject Jubilee Nairobi governor candidate Polycarp Igathe and all Azimio candidates.
The senator claimed that the national government is dishing out monies to chiefs and assistant County Commissioners to coerce voters to give up their identity cards.
"We know lots of money have already been spent. There was a meeting that was held in Kasarani and they were busy asking chiefs to start "purchasing" IDs so that they suppress the turnout in our strongholds,'' he said.
He asked UDA candidates and his supporters not to give their IDs or passports to anyone and only present them to electoral agency officials on election day.
Deputy President William Ruto's allies have accused chiefs of being used to campaign for Azimio.
The allegations emerged following a video that was making rounds on social media in December last year where the Dr Matiang'i during a meeting with chiefs in Kajiado county asked them to back President Uhuru Kenyatta's choice.
"When the President forms a queue and gives the direction of leadership, we in security sector must be the first to follow," he said.
Ruto and his have claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta is using State officers to manipulate the August 9 polls.
They have on several occasions asked Dr Matiang'i to focus on his security docket or resign and join politics following his public support for Raila as his preferred successor of President Kenyatta.
Ruto's running mate Rigathi Gachagua urged chiefs and their assistants not to be intimidated but undertake their constitutional roles.
"We are telling chiefs to reject any attempt by state operatives to use them to mobilise support for Azimio candidates," he said during a rally Kirinyaga.
Dr Matiang'i and Mr Kibicho have dismissed reports of using administrators to campaign for Azimio and vowed to continue meeting chiefs and their assistants to address security matters.
