Omamo, Matiang’i accuse NASA of maligning military

Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo and acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i  

Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo defended the military against claims of scheming to aid Jubilee to rig the August 8 General Election.

Ms Omamo said no soldiers are involved in plans to interfere with the elections as alleged by the National Super Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka.

Addressing a press conference in Kisumu Saturday, the CS said: “It is completely untrue. I have no idea about a letter alleged to have contained the rigging plans. I have not seen it.”

She added: “These allegations are dangerous and reckless and can cause despondency in the country. They are unwarranted.”

Omamo told the Kenya Defence Forces to remain strong and focused. “You are respected and valued. Stand up and deliver your mandate without fear or favour,” she said.

Raila and Kalonzo on Friday made damning revelations, claiming they had evidence that the military’s high command was being used to help President Uhuru Kenyatta retain power by subverting the elections.

But Saturday, Omamo and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i told off the Opposition leaders, saying they were misleading Kenyans.

She said the Defence ministry had noted with a lot of concern the allegations that the Jubilee administration and top military commanders planned to rig the elections.

“KDF shall not disenfranchise any citizen who wishes to exercise his or her constitutional right to vote,” said the Defence CS.

Dr Matiangi defended the police saying they had no role in the electoral process.

“The work of the security forces is only to facilitate and support IEBC to deliver on its mandate. And everything we do will be in accordance to the rule of law,” he said.

He said the security forces will maintain law and order to ensure smooth and peaceful elections. “We have an impartial and very competent security sector and we don’t want to politicise their lawful activities. So dragging KDF into electoral matters is absolutely irrelevant,” said Matiang’i.

Omamo further said claims that KDF intended to isolate Kibra and Mathare slums and disconnect power and water supply were false and ought to be treated as such.

“We urge the residents of Mathare and Kibra to treat the statements with contempt and ignore the allegations.”

But she admitted that training of KDF personnel in preparation of any possible emergencies or disasters was going on and this was a routine exercise provided for in the Constitution. “The Constitution under Article 241(3 a), b and mandates KDF to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kenya,” she said.