A terse statement released by the CORD presidential candidate, Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Campaign Secretariat warned the integrity and credibility of the General Election was under threat.
“We, at the Raila Odinga Campaign Secretariat, wish to alert the Kenyan public to these urgent concerns which, if not addressed immediately, would grossly comprise the integrity and credibility of the General Election,” stated the statement signed by the Chief Campaign Manager and Head of Raila’s Presidential Campaign Secretariat Eliud Owalo.
Raised alarm
Among concerns CORD has raised an alert on include the alleged active involvement of the Head of Public service Francis Kimemia, NIS Director General Michael Gichangi, and Chief of Defence Forces Julius Karangi in partisan activities aimed at influencing the elections in favour of the one of a presidential candidates and/or against one candidate.
“We have irrefutable evidence of Kimemia’s involvement in partisan campaigns including instructions to DCs, the so-called County Commissioners and PCs to canvass votes and develop and implement electoral fraud strategies for a presidential candidate, while suppressing voter turn-out against another candidate,” read the statement.
“Regular meetings have been held in Kimemia’s office at Harambee House to further this enterprise, the details of which are available. Gichangi on his part has been part of various strategy meetings held at various places including at Pizza Garden, Nairobi (on December 20 last year) and Outspan Hotel in Nyeri on December 15, last year, with the same aim. One of the most recent activities were meetings held on February 7, at General Karangi’s office at the Department of Defence headquarters,” the statement stated.
And on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta spokesman Munyori Buku termed as baseless CORD’s allegation.
“The allegation by CORD is characteristic of a team that has sensed defeat and is now clutching on straws. They are losing these elections and they know it for a fact,” said Munyori.
Munyori said the Jubilee Alliance campaign is supported by many Kenyans who every day show in word and deed that they are for Uhuru Kenyatta, and his running mate William Ruto.
Jubilee reaction was specific even though the CORD team did not say which candidate Kimemia is working for. - The Standard
