The Interior PS, Dr. Karanja Kibicho has cleared the air responding to allegations that the government is planning to rig votes in the forthcoming 9th August 2022 general elections.
Dismissing the claims by Ruto as baseless propaganda and early signs of defeat, Kibicho pointed out that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is indeed an independent body and is free from any State manipulation.
Speaking during an interview at Kameme Fm, Kibicho said that IEBC has continuously highlighted to the public the measures they have put in place to ensure that August elections will be free and fair.
He also said that all aspirants were given an opportunity to ask any questions they had regarding the forthcoming general elections during their nomination processes and their queries responded to.
“I wonder where rigging votes and the government would coincide since the government isn’t the electorate, neither is it the vote counting nor election results announcing body,” he said.
Kibicho said that the government is obliged to offer technical, financial and logistical support in terms of stable internet connection, security, back up electricity to IEBC and these have nothing to do with rigging elections.
He went ahead to express his disappointment with the people who have been spreading rumors that the government has the mandate to rig elections, saying that votes are counted and election results announced from the polling stations, where the voters are.
“I know especially presidential election results put Kenyans in deep anxiety; but Kenyans should know that Form 34A, which is the form used to tabulate results in presidential elections is sent via a public portal which anyone can access from wherever they are, including outside the country,” said the PS.
Kibicho said that the government takes absolutely no control over the public portal and hence has no control over tallying of votes and announcement of election results.
