Wiper Democratic Movement has warned that it will disqualify aspirants who will involve themselves in violence and other electoral malpractices as its primaries kick off today.
Addressing the press in Mombasa, the party’s secretary General Hassan Omar said all aspirants must ensure the conduct themselves with decorum and respect for the rule of law during the nominations.
He said Wiper as party is committed to free, fair and transparent nomination, he warned that any evidence of violence will lead to an automatic disqualification and prosecution.
“We are not going to impose any fine on anybody… any evidence of violence will not only lead to automatic disqualification but we shall also gladly hand you over to the police for the full force of the law…I think it is important for this country to put to an end political thuggery. It is not proper that people organize youth to maim each other, to kill each other, to destroy property and create hatred around the political environment,” noted the Mombasa Senator.
Added Omar, “It is not in our interest to protect an aspirant within Wiper or any other political force to continue advancing violence unabated.”
He warned that they are adequately prepared security wise to deal with any form of violence amid claims that they had received “reliable intelligence reports” linking groups attached to Governor Hassan Joho with plans to disrupt the primaries at the Coast today.
Omar hinted that the party is aware of plans to spark violence during today’s exercise but warned that anybody attempting to spark violence “will be dealt with without mercy.”
According to Omar the basing on the intelligence report, the party has mapped out a number of areas specifically within Mombasa where they expect tension to be high and authorized “that whenever there is violence, police to intervene with the full force of law.”
“There are people who think they were born in their own world and always think they can plan for everybody. If it is so, then why is it that when he was summoned he presented himself to court? If you come to disrupt our nominations and then the following day you receive a notice, don’t come and play victim,” noted the Senator while indirectly referring to governor Joho.
He noted that he has personally convened a fruitful meeting with top security chiefs in Mombasa and had agreed to offer all the security necessary possible to ensure all the polling centers including the tallying center are secured.
