• He went on to say the statement applies more to the false claims the DP has been making in public.
• Matiang'i said that he was not aware of any plot to rig elections as has been alleged by leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza coalition, led by Ruto.
Image: FRED MATIANG'I/TWITTER
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has responded to Deputy President William Ruto's rigging claims.
While addressing the media on Friday, Matiang'i said he agrees with Ruto that Kenya has a shortage of fools.
He went on to say the statement applies more to the false claims the DP has been making in public.
"I agree with his excellency that Kenya has a shortage of fools and I think that applies more to some of those petty claims he makes than anything else," the CS said.
Matiang'i said that he was not aware of any plot to rig elections as has been alleged by leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza coalition, led by Ruto.
He said it was petty for people to imagine that an institution that enjoys autonomy and protection by the law like Communication Authority can be used for primitive things like interfering with the internet.
"Sometimes in a civilised world these claims I find them too cheap and ridiculous to even think about and when they come from the mouths of senior leaders you don't know whether to laugh or cry," Matiang'i said.
"We are not going to shut down the internet we are not going to interfere with social media. Why would we do that, Kenya has come of age."
He called on Kenyans to ignore the anger directed at security officials.
The CS said Ruto has not given any proof of the allegations against the National Government Administration officials he claimed are working on a rigging plan, including buying identity cards from voters.
"There does not exist a government plan to rig elections through deliberate acts of omission or commission. Allegations that the chiefs and assistant chiefs are buying or withholding IDs to suppress voter turnout in UDA strongholds is ridiculous. If true, it would constitute a criminal and electoral offence," he said.
"The National Government Administrative Officers chair security and peace committees in their areas of jurisdiction. Their responsibilities render it necessary to hold regular interactions with their seniors including Cabinet Secretaries and the Principal Secretaries. This helps to coordinate and review relevant matters of administration and security."
Matiang'i said it was wrong of DP Ruto to send personalised attacks on government officers, saying that his words could influence how his supporters relate to them.
On Thursday, the DP accused Rift Valley Regional commissioner Maalim Mohamed of planning chaos on election day.
He said Maalim was holding night meetings with people to plan the violence.
Ruto claimed the Rift Valley RC was being helped by Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and Nakuru County commissioners.
"The Regional Commissioner of Rift Valley, Maalim Mohamed, the County commissioners Samson Ojwang of Trans Nzoia and Stephen Kihara of Uasin Gishu and Erastus Mbui of Nakuru are part of this scheme. They are the people holding night meetings to plan conflict amongst Kenyans," Ruto said.
"We are aware of night meetings being held to orchestrate disharmony."