Kenya Kwanza hits back after Sabina Chege’s claims on polls rigging
Muranga Women rep Sabina Chege. Her utterances at an Azimio la Umoja rally in Vihiga County have sparked controversy.
Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege has kicked up a storm in the Deputy President William Ruto’s camp with her remarks that the last presidential election was tinkered with malpractices.
The remarks, made Thursday evening at a public rally in Vihiga County, have forced DP Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza team, that also has ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya's Moses Wetang'ula, to come out and reassure their supporters that they will not allow rigging to determine the succession race of President Uhuru Kenyatta
During the Vihiga Azimio rally that was attended by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and a host of leaders allied to Azimio, Ms Chege said that there could have been election rigging in 2017.
"They [Kenya Kwanza Alliance] think they are the cleverest. We have the people and Raila has met the people," said Ms Chege.
She added: "He [Mr Odinga] is the people's project and we want him to be the people's President."
On Friday, however, Dr Ruto exuded confidence and termed Ms Chege's utterances as panic in the Azimio bandwagon.
"Our competitors know we have defeated them in planning and policymaking. They are now saying they will rig the election," said Dr Ruto.
He went on: "We are telling them we are ready for them and God is with us. No one can steal our vote and the one thinking about this is daydreaming.
"We are asking our supporters not to get shaken by such utterances on plans to rig the election."
Dr Ruto said his UDA party defeated the deep state and handshake during the by-elections in Msambweni, Juja and Kiamba, a sign that they would still do the same in the coming General Election.
"In the August 9 General Election, we will win early in the morning and they will do nothing," said Dr Ruto.
On his part, Mr Mudavadi said the Kenya Kwanza Alliance is seeking a round one victory that will not be subject of any Supreme Court battle.
He also said there is need for the victory in the first round because there is no money to conduct a runoff election due to a bleeding economy.
"Yesterday (on Thursday) the Azimio project was in Vihiga. One of them said their agenda is to rig. We will not accept such because it is about Azimio la Wizi and not Umoja as they purport," said Mr Mudavadi.
The Amani boss noted that the country has gone through challenges after every five years because of electoral malpractices.
He wondered that the Mr Odinga-led group speaks about unity but on the other hand says it will rig the election in its favour.
He said it was a pity that Ms Chege admitted that President Kenyatta is in office courtesy of stolen election.
"We cannot allow a stolen election and that is why we are saying Kenya Kwanza Alliance is seeking a clean round one victory," said Mr Mudavadi.
Mr Wetang'ula of Ford Kenya said the three Kenya Kwanza Alliance leaders have worked with Mr Odinga before and understand his political antics, a move he expressed confidence will enable them defeat him at the ballot.
While asking their supporters to turn out in large numbers during the polls, the Bungoma Senator said the poorly attended crowds during the Azimio la Umoja tour of Vihiga had caused panic and forced them to unleash the rigging plan.
"No one will dare rig and we will not keep silent in the face of tyranny and deceit. We know the importance of a free and fair election," said Mr Wetang'ula.
Mr odinga’s brother Dr Oburu Oginga is on the record claiming that his younger sibling won the last three elections but ‘the system’ always stole his votes. Now, he says, with state backing, there is no obstacle on the the former Prime Minister’s path to the house on the hill.
