Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Movement (UDA) party now wants five state officers engaging in active politics prosecuted.
The UDA party has written to DPP Noordin Haji seeking prosecution of the said state officers engaging in active politics.
Through a letter signed by secretary-general Veronica Maina, the party wants the DPP to press charges against the officers to safeguard a free and fair electoral process.
The party listed Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i, his Information and Communication Technology (ICT) counterpart Joe Mucheru, James Macharia of Transport and Infrastructure, Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eugene Wamalwa, and Peter Munya of Agriculture.
Interior PS Karanja Kibicho and Environment CS Keriako Tobiko are also listed.
“The Cabinet Secretaries and the Principal Secretary being state officers are in breach of Section 15 of the Election Offences Act, 2016 for using their offices to engage in active support of the Azimio Coalition Presidential candidate and for publicly indicating their support for their preferred candidate,” Maina said.
The UDA SG accused Matiang’i of directing administrative officers under him to the village level to disrespect President Uhuru Kenyatta’s preferred presidential candidate.
Uhuru has since endorsed the Azimio la Umoja Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga as his preferred successor.
Maina has accused the state officers of accompanying the Azimio flag bearer to his campaigns and pledged support for his presidential bid.
Other than breaching the Election Offences Act, Maina told the DPP that the state officers have also violated the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act, and the Public Officer and Ethics Act.
The constitution of Kenya prohibits state officers from engaging in any political activity.
This means that any political activity that may compromise or be seen to compromise the political neutrality of their office is prohibited