• Mandago said those trained at the Chebororwa Farmers Training College were county enforcement officers and not militiamen.
• Kihara denies claims he has been meeting at night with chiefs to favour Azimioahead of August 9 polls.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
Governor Jackson Mandago of Uasin Gishu has criticised the DCI for not "properly investigating" claims he is backing pre-poll militia training.
Mandago also accused Uasin Gishu county commissioner Stephen Kihara of holding night meetings with chiefs to influence the August 9 election in favour of Azimio.
“The county commissioner should stop those schemes because we know everything he has been doing in the region at night,” Mandago said on Sunday..
Mandago is the UDA candidate for senator.
He repeated his denial that militia had been trained in the county. He accused his opponents led by independent governor candidate Bundotich Buzeki of spreading false claims aimed at frightening residents.
The governor said he had recorded a statement with DCI but those who made the claims were not summoned for investigations.
Mandago said again that those trained at the Chebororwa Farmers Training College were county enforcement officer, not militiamen.
Speaking separately on Sunday, Kihara denied claims he had been holding night meetings with chiefs to influence them ahead of the polls.
“I am not a politician and wouldn’t like to engage in exchanges with the governor. However, all our meetings are recorded during normal hours and he should produce evidence of his claims,” Kihara said.
He accused Mandago of making him a scapegoat for unknown reasons.
Mandago last Saturday at county headquarters accused Kihara of holding the meetings and intimidating chiefs to force them to support the Azimio side.
Meantime, the government has directed chiefs in Uasin Gishu to hold regular public meetings as part of election education and monitoring to assure pre-poll peace and unity.
Kihara says the meetings will enable residents to ventilate their fears and complaints.
He said although political leaders are allowed to participate, the meetings are not for supporting anyone but maintaining peace and security.
Kihara said the county has partnered with peace groups to host events, including sports meets, to foster peace in the region.
Civil society groups have urged the IEBC to step up public education of resident on the electoral process.
Programmes director for Champions of Peace Elly Opondo said they are working with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and other agencies to educate the public on peace and unity
(Edited by V. Graham)