The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has defended Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries named by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in allegations of interference in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ruling party described the allegations as unfounded and accused Gachagua of making serious claims without presenting evidence.
UDA was responding to an eight-page letter that Gachagua addressed to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Ethekon on Tuesday, in which he alleged that several senior government officials were campaigning for the ruling party and influencing voters ahead of the by-election.
The former Deputy President named Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, ICT CS William Kabogo, Roads CS Davis Chirchir and Tourism CS Rebecca Miano among those he claimed were involved.
He also listed Principal Secretaries Nixon Korir, Patrick Mariru, Alex Wachira, Joseph Mbugua, Mary Muthoni and Ann Wang’ombe, alleging they were taking part in activities that could compromise the credibility of the poll.
However, UDA dismissed the accusations, saying no evidence had been presented to support claims of voter bribery or unlawful campaigning by the officials.
“A dramatic list of Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries allegedly campaigning and bribing in Ol Kalou Constituency has been recklessly referenced, without a particle of evidence,” the party said.
The party maintained that any allegations of election offences should be reported through the appropriate legal and electoral channels instead of being raised through public statements.
UDA maintains that where there is credible evidence of bribery and/or undue influence, it ought to be taken to the authorities.
It has also accused the ruling party of selectively pointing out the lack of electoral integrity by only highlighting matters involving its allies and ignoring similar cases involving politicians allied to the former deputy president.
UDA cited Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, an ally of the former deputy president who was indicted on charges of incitement, intimidation, and threats to the residents of Ol Kalou.
According to UDA, the former deputy president has never come out strongly against such claims, maintaining that he holds different standards depending on whom it affects.
At the same time, the former deputy president has consistently expressed worries about the ongoing by-elections in Malava, Mbeere North, Narok Town and now Ol Kalou but has ignored other instances of violence allegedly orchestrated by politicians allied to him.
UDA also contested the way Gachagua interpreted the law saying that he is basing his claims on the 2022 High Court decision without mentioning subsequent rulings made by superior courts.
UDA said that the move by the former deputy president to deploy more than 2,000 security officers for the forthcoming by-election, saying that the question of security in elections is an issue for the Inspector General of Police, and not politicians.
The exchange forms part of the increasingly bitter politics leading up to the by-election in Ol Kalou, where there have been accusations and counter-accusations made by both parties regarding their campaign methods and the electoral process itself.