Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed that some political figures are paying youths for their IDs in a plot to rig the November 27 by-election in Mbeere North.
Gachagua, who was speaking during a media interview on Saturday, November 22, claimed that some leaders are approaching the youths in Mbeere North "to buy their IDs" for up to Ksh5,000 to prevent them from voting in the elections.
"I have just been told that some leaders are buying IDs for young people so that they don't go and vote... It is very sad if you sell your ID for Ksh5,000 or Ksh2,000 and then you deny yourself the right to choose a representative who will determine your future," Gachagua said.
The Democratic for Citizens Party (DCP) leader further alleged that other leaders are offering money to youths for them to divert their votes to their candidates.
According to Gachagua, this is a strategy that is being deployed by some senior leaders from President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance Party.
Acknowledging the roles the youths have played in keeping the government in check, Gachagua claimed that accepting such a deal would be a betrayal of their own cause, which is to elect leaders who will spearhead development in their region.
"The Gen-Zs are the pillar of transformation in our country, because they are the ones who are opposing wrongdoings by the government, and they are the ones who have vowed to make Ruto a one-term It will be said for our Gen-Zs to accept money from the leader for them to choose someone else," Gachagua said.
"I'm waiting to see how our young people are going to behave because I will be extremely saddened when they are given money and they forget that they are the ones who started telling us to help them make Ruto a one-term," he added.
Gachagua is among the top political figures, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who have set up camp in Mbeere North to rally residents to vote for their candidates in the upcoming by-election.
Kuria, who is the Chama Cha Kazi Party leader, is campaigning in the area for Ireri Mbui under his party. Gachagua is drumming up support for the United Opposition candidate, Newton Karish, while Kindiki is campaigning for Leonard Muthende under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party.
The statement from Gachagua came just hours after Moses Kuria cautioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) against tolerating insecurity or any electoral malpractice in the upcoming elections.
In a press briefing on Saturday, November 22, Kuria said that he had already discussed the matter with some senior election officials to ensure that security in these areas is reinforced, especially for leaders spearheading campaigns, to avert chaos.
Kuria warned that if not controlled, chaos or irregularities in these elections might actually ruin the country's reputation in the international community, which is closely monitoring the situation.
"I was here in 2007, and I saw what Kenya went through, and I can't keep quiet because my heart has no peace. If you look in Narok, Mbeere North, and other areas, there is widespread insecurity. I want to ask President William Ruto directly, the international community is watching," Kuria said.
