The Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) has expressed concerns over Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and his Principal Secretary (PS) Karanja Kibicho involvement in campaigns prior to the August elections.
During a joint press conference with other human rights defenders, IMLU executive director, Peter Kiama noted that the two in charge of electoral security should be impartial without having any political affiliation.
“We call upon those in charge of security, especially these final days of campaigns, during counting and announcing of results but they must by all costs take a position of impartiality,” he said.
This comes after Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji seeking prosecution of state officers engaging in active politics.
In a letter written by secretary general Veronica Maina, the party requests that the DPP utilize Article 157(6)(a) of the Constitution and prosecute the officers in order to ensure a free and fair electoral process.
Matiang’i, his ICT counterpart Joe Mucheru, Transport and Infrastructure’s James Macharia, Devolutions’ Eugene Wamalwa, and Agriculture’s Peter Munya were all named by the party.
“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.
Matiang’i however, slammed black at Ruto-allied lawmakers for frequently insulting public personnel at political rallies. Matiang’i took issue with some Ruto-allied politicians’ disparaging remarks about Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Stephen Kihara.
“There are some unfortunate remarks I heard last weekend, mostly targeted at Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Stephen Kihara. Kihara is one of our best public servants who has risen through the ranks from D.O, D.C.C, and County Commissioner. Uasin Gishu is not his first station, he has worked elsewhere. Let us stop profiling public servants, why should you insult officers who lack a platform to respond to your jibes?” he quipped.