NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga yesterday claimed 42 police and military officers have been given ‘special duties’ to rig the August 8 polls.
The opposition chief said the officers have been recalled from their usual assignments and recruited as election officials to aid the vote rigging plot.
The officers have been drawn from the Army, National Intelligence Service, General Service Unit and the Dog Unit, he says.
They will work as returning officers, presiding officers, polling clerks and party agents to steal the election in favour of Jubilee’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila said.
Raila (pictured) said the ‘secret duties’ that will be performed by the officers are only known to top security bosses.
“Documents in our possession, and which we are sharing with the public, indicate that a team of 42 police officers have been assigned what the Kenya Police Service call ‘Special Service calls’ via a circular dated June 23, 2017,” claimed Raila.
“Please withdraw their kits, issue them with kit clearance certificate, forward the same to this headquarters and inform them to report to Police Headquarters for their discharge certificate on or before July 2, 2017,” read the memo in part.
Police spokesperson Charles Owino said the officers are being discharged to take up appointments with the NIS.
“This is quite normal. I am aware that some officers have been discharged. They have not been sacked or retired. They are transferring their service to NIS, which is a different entity and will not be required to be in uniform. It is normal for NIS to recruit from the police service,” he said.
“We serve the government of the day, but we are not involved in politics. That is why we provide security to all parties and candidates.”