“Shame on you.”
This was President Uhuru Kenyatta’s response to NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga who claimed Jubilee wants to use the military to rig polls.
Uhuru said his administration understands and respects the role of the army “unlike other leaders who had misused the military before.”
He said it is common knowledge among Kenyans which leaders have attempted to use the military to cause a coup in the past.
“We have no experience of planning coups. Kenyans know the master of coups, those who have used the army before to try to get power.”
Uhuru said Raila and his team are keen on joining the government through the backdoor.
“We cannot allow the good name of our military whose image is well known all over the world to be tarnished because of politics.”
“This is why we say to Odinga, shame on you,” he said during a vote-hunt in Nandi on Friday.
“Our security officers are the ones who are protecting our borders and then someone wants to drag them into his dirty politics…
…I say once again Mr Odinga: shame on you,” he added.
The president was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto and a host of other Jubilee leaders.
MPs Stephen Sang (Nandi), Julius Melly (Tinderet), Cornelly Serem (Aldai) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) were present.
The head of state said Kenyans will cast their votes on August 8 despite protest by Raila’s team.
The opposition has said they will only concede defeat when they believe the polls are free, fair, credible and conducted transparently.
Uhuru, on his part, said that despite threats by the Opposition to boycott the general election, the same will go on as planned.
The Jubilee Party leaders said Raila’s National Super Alliance team has only sensed defeat and want an excuse.
Raila’s running mate is Kalonzo Musyoka. Musalia Mudavadi, Isaac Rutto, Moses Wetang’ula are in his team.
They have dismissed claims of boycotting polls. Raila said their position is that the process must be credible and foolproof.
Read: NASA has no plan to boycott poll but don’t try rigging, Raila tells Jubilee
But the Jubilee team has discredited the Pentagon’s bid saying the lot failed when they were in government.
“NASA leaders are now out to invent all manner of reasons to discredit the elections.”
Uhuru further said the mandate as well as duties of the military is well known and respected by the executive.
Raila, on the other hand, equated the alleged involvement of military “to interfere with the August 8 election” to a coup.
“These new soldiers will readily take orders from authorities. This is unacceptable. We are not that stupid,” Raila said.
More on this: Rigging plot: Jubilee planning blackout in Mathare, Kibera – Raila
KDF’s Joseph Owuoth said the documents cited by the ODM leader are genuine and were only quoted out of context.
Ruto said, “these are mere tricks the Opposition is trying to employ to discredit the elections.”
He said it is part of a scheme to create a chaotic environment in an attempt to push for a coalition government.
The leaders told Raila that he should know Kenyans will elect Jubilee because of its development track record.
More on this: Raila issues list of 42 police ‘deployed as agents to rig elections’
Addressing a public rally at Kapsabet Showground in Nandi county, the leaders said an election is Kenyans’ democratic right.
“The Opposition cannot stop it,” Uhuru said in comments DP Ruto when he addressed hundreds of residents who turned up for the meeting.
“Our friends have become professional complainers, and masters of blame game and deceit. They want to blame everything on everybody.”
The ruling party leaders told their counterparts in the race to sell their agenda to Kenyans instead of criticising Jubilee projects.
Nandi is Jubilee stronghold. Residents voted for Uhuru and Ruto 85 percent. Sang said they target above 95 per cent in next months polls.
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