The National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) has filed an affidavit dismissing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati’s claim of making an offer to alter results.
Responding to an affidavit by IEBC, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua indicated that the NSAC met to discuss public security matters.
“The meeting was necessitated by the fact that the NSAC in the discharge of its mandate had become ceased of information to the effect that the delays in declaring the results of the presidential elections and the manner in which results were being transmitted including the stoppage of the public display of results had generated considerable public anxiety and tension and risked creating the opportunity for chaos, violence and insecurity in parts of the country,” Kihara says in his affidavit.
Additionally, he cited that having attended the meeting in the affidavit was LT. General Francis Omondi Ogolla, Vice Chief of Defenses, Solicitor General Kennedy Ogeto, Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, and Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of President Kennedy Kihara.
The NSAC mentioned that if the public display of results had been abruptly stopped and there had been no public communication on the matter or on the process of tallying and verifying the results, it was unclear at the time the meeting was requested whether Chebukati would be able to meet the stated timelines or whether they were encountering any difficulties.
“I am aware that the law requires the result to be declared within 7 days which in the present case was to lapse on August 16. The delay in declaring the results of presidential elections while lawful but particularly long,” Kihara said.
According to Kinyua’s affidavit, he called Chebukati to advise him that the NSAC had decided to send a team to meet with him and other commission members to talk about security issues related to the transmission tallying, verification, and announcement of presidential election results.
“It is due to the urgency and sensitivity of the matter at hand that NSAC considered it necessary to have a physical meeting as opposed to engaging in correspondents,” Kinyua says.
IEBC commissioner Abdi Guliye claimed (NSAC) warned Chebukati not to declare William Ruto as the president-elect.
“Kihara proceeded to caution us that if we proceeded with the declaration of the results with Ruto as president-elect and chaos erupt, ‘then the blood of the dead Kenyans’ will be on our hands,” Guliye said.