• CS was responding to questions on the status of investigations into the the stoning of ODM leader Raila Odinga's airbone chopper.
•Matiang’i said from the evidence, it can be concluded the attack was premeditated, not spontaneous.
Image: FREDRICK OMONDI
The mobilisation of people from opposing camps is the biggest trigger of election chaos witnessed in political rallies, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has said.
The CS said voter bribery and rented crowds are the biggest threats to the country’s security ahead of the August elections.
He was concerned that the emerging trend where politicians pay money to huge groups of people, some ferried at night to political gatherings, will hurt the country.
“If this doesn’t stop, as every group will be mobilising, the clashes will intensify,” he said.
The CS told the National Assembly Security Committee chaired by Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, that the police cannot be blamed for clashes that emanate from bribery contracts.
“Police will not be used to mediate bribery contracts and sharing of the setting of disputes arising out rented crowds mobilisation, expectations and bribes,” he said on Tuesday.
The CS was responding to questions by members on the status of investigations into the incident where ODM leader Raila Odinga’s chopper was stoned at Kabenes, Uasin Gishu last Friday.
MPs at the committee were concerned that the events were a pointer to looming chaos in the upcoming election.
Matiang’i said from the evidence the Interior ministry is looking at, it can be concluded the attack, which he described as annoying and unnecessary, was planned.
“The suspects who were arrested had hordes of thousands of shillings. They have taken their statements,” he said.
“There must have been choreography. It is not a coincidence they had Sh50 notes. We are exploring the material before us.”
Matiang’i said the action which would follow would depend on the direction investigations will point to, promising no one would be spared if found culpable.
“We always have to act strictly according to the law,” the CS said of the incident where six leaders have been summoned by the police to make statements.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations had invited MPs Caleb Kositany (Soy), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Uasin Gishu Speaker David Kiplangat, MPs John Mbadi (Suba South), Junet Mohamed (Suna East) and Babu Owino (Embakasi East).
Matiang'i said the country’s security apparatus was adequately prepared for the election saying there will be no sacred cows in the crackdown on perpetrators of political violence.
He said the onus of ensuring peace prevails during the electoral cycle rested with political leaders and parties.
“More police officers have been hired and therefore available for deployment,” the CS said.
He said there was no cause for worry, following the incidents, saying the four major ones recorded so far are not related.
“In three of the incidents, groups of people who had been given money clashed. These incidents are isolated. I don’t think the chopper incident speaks about Uasin Gishu. The persons involved are being dealt with as criminals,” Matiang'i said.
He cited Busia where people were arrested after attacking the DP’s convoy and Kondele where the police dispersed a rowdy mob at a meeting held by the DP.
“I don’t think these speak to an emerging trend in the country. We are picking up information and it doesn’t speak to issues that are emerging,” the CS said.
“We have more resources for elections than in 2017, more police officers and we are sufficiently resourced to help IEBC conduct the elections when called.”
“I gave them the information I hope will be useful in their investigations. We expect an expeditious conclusion to this matter. No political zoning in our country,” Junet said after appearing before the DCI.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris