Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju likens NASA anti-IEBC protests to terrorism

Raphael Tuju, Raila Odinga (Photo: Courtesy)

Nairobi, Friday:  Jubilee Party Secretary General has likened the National Super Alliance’s (NASA) anti-IEBC protests to terrorism.

Speaking during a local TV station interview on Thursday evening, Raphael Tuju  said NASA’s protests to  force the removal of some Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission before the repeat presidential election slated for October 26, played on people's fear and  was therefore unacceptable.

NASA accuses the official of bungling the August 8 presidential election in favour of the incumbent, Uhuru Kenyatta

“They are playing on peoples fear. That is the same play terrorists play on us… blackmail, blackmail, blackmail,” said Tuju.

"We cannot have people blackmail Kenyans that if it does not go their way, they will go to the streets," he added.

On his part, the NASA head of Secretariat Norman Magaya called Tuju’s take a barbaric argument that was not tenable in a modern democracy.

Magaya said criminals calling themselves the ‘Nairobi Business Community’ were planning to attack NASA supporters during demos.

In September President Uhuru Kenyatta said NASA leaders and their supporters were free to hold peaceful demonstrations against IEBC but warned that any violence or destruction of property would be met with the full force of the law.

“People are free to demonstrate but they must ensure that they do not destroy other people’s property. Mama mboga’s vegetables will not be destroyed. Businesses will not be attacked. Let them not think that they will break into other people’s shops and interfere with the daily routine of other Kenyans,” President Uhuru said.

He also asked the Opposition chief Raila Odinga, to pull out of the repeat election if he was not ready.