UDA rejects Gachagua’s vote-rigging claims ahead of Ol Kalou by-election

UDA rejects Gachagua’s vote-rigging claims ahead of Ol Kalou by-election

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KHRC calls for urgent action against electoral violence ahead of Ol Kalou by-election

Rachael Mutabasi

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UDA’s response came after Gachagua wrote to IEBC Chair Erastus Ethekon on Tuesday, citing bribery allegations by senior Kenya Kwanza government officials during campaigns.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has rejected claims by Democratic Congress Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua that Thursday’s Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election could be manipulated, saying the allegations lack evidence and urging the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct the poll in accordance with the law.
UDA’s response came after Gachagua wrote to IEBC Chair Erastus Ethekon on Tuesday, citing bribery allegations by senior Kenya Kwanza government officials during campaigns. Gachagua also alleged an elaborate scheme to manipulate the by-election through interference with polling, vote counting, security operations and voter identification procedures.
In a separate letter addressed to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja earlier on Wednesday, Gachagua similarly raised concerns over police deployment, alleged intimidation of his party’s supporters and the conduct of security officers ahead of the by-election.

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In his letter, Gachagua claimed the National Police Service (NPS) had come under the influence of senior figures in the Kenya Kwanza administration. He also questioned the deployment of more than 2,000 police officers to Ol Kalou, calling for all officers assigned to election duties to be in uniform, display their service numbers and use clearly marked police vehicles.
Gachagua further alleged that some officers had been deployed to interfere with the electoral process and cited several incidents he said targeted DCP officials and supporters during the campaign period.
In a rejoinder addressed to IEBC Chair Ethekon, UDA rejected Gachagua’s claims, arguing that they were unsupported and intended to undermine confidence in the electoral process. According to UDA, the allegations of bribery, voter intimidation or electoral interference should be pursued through established legal channels rather than through public accusations.

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“Where it exists, admissible evidence of bribery or undue influence should be addressed through lawful structures, not by a scattergun letter to the IEBC,” UDA said in the letter signed by Secretary General Hassan Omar.
UDA also defended IEBC against allegations that it could collude in manipulating the outcome of the by-election, stressing that election officials carry out their duties under scrutiny from party agents and election observers.
“The suggestion that the IEBC would collude in disenfranchising young voters or rigging KIEMS tallies is not only baseless but an insult to the patriotic election officials who conduct these exercises under intense scrutiny from party agents and observers of all persuasions,” the party said.
Further, UDA dismissed claims that senior government officials were involved in planning to influence the outcome of the by-election, saying no evidence had been provided to support the allegations. UDA also maintained that deployment of security personnel is the responsibility of the NPS under the command of the Inspector General and not the IEBC.
UDA subsequently urged the IEBC to proceed with the Ol Kalou by-election despite the political claims surrounding the vote.
“We urge the IEBC to conduct the Ol Kalou Constituency by-election professionally, transparently and in accordance with the law, without acquiescing to blackmail, ultimatums, theatrics or the politics of manufactured crisis,” the party said.

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