President Uhuru dismisses Raila’s claims Jubilee is listing foreigners to vote

President Uhuru Kenyatta in Kirinyaga County yesterday where he urged locals to register as voters in large numbers. [photo: Mose Sammy/Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta has dismissed allegations by the Opposition that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) is registering foreigners to vote for Jubilee on August 8.

President Kenyatta termed Opposition leader Raila Odinga's claims as outrageous. He said Raila had resorted to making unsubstantiated claims after sensing defeat.

The President who spoke in Kirinyaga yesterday said the only way to silence Raila is to defeat him in the forthcoming polls.

"You should register en masse so we can defeat the opposition. They have sensed defeat and are now making outrageous claims," said Kenyatta who spoke in Kutus town.

And speaking separately in Maili Nane, Cherangany Constituency, Deputy President William Ruto also accused the opposition of making the vote rigging claims because they have sensed defeat.

"They first said the electoral commission was not fit and we changed, they moved to dispute amendment of laws threatening to boycott elections and are now alleging that we are importing voters. They are like a team that is blaming the shape of the ball, size of goal posts and referee yet they are unprepared," Ruto said.

Uhuru said former members of the outlawed Mungiki sect should also be issued with national Identity Cards to register as voters.

Hundreds of former members of the murderous sect had been avoiding to use their IDs to hide their identities after the government started a crackdown on the illegal sect.

Kirinyaga, Nyeri and Murang'a are said to be the counties with the largest number of Mungiki members.

Mr Kenyatta told chiefs and their assistants to ensure youths who were once accused of various crimes, including murders, are issued with IDs without intimidation.

"The youths have shed off their past and are no longer engaging in crime and should therefore be treated as any other Kenyan. We have directed chiefs to ensure all youths, regardless of their past, are issued with IDs," said the President.

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He added: "We do not want to hear anyone is threatened with arrest as they apply for IDs. I am, aware youths are fearing to apply for IDs because of their past. But I'm assuring you nobody will lock you up. Get the IDs and then register en masse as voters so that you can elect leaders who will be able to use your funds well."

Yesterday, Raila claimed NIS is registering people from Uganda to influence the General Election outcome in favour of Jubilee.

The President toured Garissa and Kirinyaga counties. In Kirinyaga, he addressed residents of Wang'uru, Mutithi, Makutano, Sagana, Kagio and Kutus.

Uhuru was accompanied by Governor Joseph Ndathi, Senator Daniel Karaba, MPs Joseph Gitari (Kirinyaga Central), Njogu Barua (Gichugu) and Mwea's Peter Gitau.

Kirinyaga gubernatorial aspirants, former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, were also present.

At Wang'uru, residents urged the President to ensure construction of Thiba Dam is completed after the project stalled.

The residents said delayed construction of the dam is to blame for the acute shortage of water that has hit the area.

A visibly angry Kenyatta accused some local leaders of delaying the project due to wrangling.