Prove voter rigging claims, Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery challenges Raila Odinga

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery during a fundraiser in aid of Presbyterian Outreach Mission Church in Limanet, Narok County yesterday. [PHOTO:ROBERT KIPLAGAT/STANDARD]

Interior Cabinet Secretary General Joseph Nkaissery has challenged CORD leader Raila Odinga to table evidence on voter rigging claims.

Nkaissery said Raila’s remarks were meant to incite Kenyans against accepting the outcome of the next General Election.

“We cannot be talking of voter rigging when we have more than seven months to elections. If there is a way in which votes are stolen then let him apply the same. There is nothing like rigging of elections in this country,” he said.

Speaking yesterday at Nyamecheo Primary School during a book donation public forum, Nkaissery warned Opposition leaders against linking the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to voter rigging claims, adding that Kenyans are not ready to undergo the experience of the 2007/08 post election violence.

“Security personnel are on high alert due to incitement remarks being made by a section of politicians. There will be no bloodshed under my watch,” he said.

Earlier on while addressing chiefs and assistant chiefs at Gusii Stadium, Nkaissery told them to deliver 60 per cent of new voter registration in Nyanza by Friday next week.

Zero voters

This is after it emerged that some registration centres have recorded zero new voters. Kisii and Nyamira counties are targeting 157,000 and 350,000 new voters respectively.

“It is the responsibility of the chiefs and the assistant chiefs to ensure that they meet the set expectations. We must achieve the set numbers within the set time frame,” said Nkaissery.

He was accompanied by his Education counterpart Fred Matiang’i, who also called on the Gusii community to come out in large numbers and be registered.

He applauded the role played by the chiefs and their assistants.

“We need a stable country with a better working environment. It is absurd that we have more than 400,000 people who are yet to be registered in Kisii County,” said Dr Matiang’i.

He announced that the Ministry of Education has prepared a Bill that has been tabled in Parliament to allow county commissioners chair county education boards.

“The current government under President Uhuru Kenyatta has a policy of deliver as one and we must continue to work as a team. The county commissioner remains the overall government official in the county,” he said.

According to Matiang’i, the country had previously made a wrong decision to keep away chiefs from schools.

“The provincial administration is a key component of the government. They have enough understanding of the locals and all that affects communities,” he added.