Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika has written an alarming letter to Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai raising concerns on alleged planned chaos ahead of the London ward by-elections.
In the letter dated March 2, 2021, Kihika claimed that the government in collaboration with the Jubilee Party was plotting to distort voting.
"The government in cahoots with the jubilee party has plotted to use the police to cause and disrupt voting in Thursday's by-election in London Ward, Nakuru Town West," read the opening statement of the letter.
Kihika who is a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party supporter stated that there was a laid-out plan and mentioned names of those involved in the plot.
"In an elaborate plan codenamed Operation Nakuru west, an OCPD (name withheld) has been directed to threaten, blockade, and curtail the movement of UDA supporters on voting day."
"The dastardly, undemocratic, and one-party era scheme is also meant to have marauding gangs cause mayhem in
UDA strongholds in the ward," she added.
Kihika claimed the Jubilee Party had no support on the ground and named some police officers in the area as part of the plot to rig the by-election.
"It is abundantly evident that Jubilee has panicked and resorted to open-market voter bribery as witnessed at the weekend. And in line with Operation Nakuru West, the police supervised the bribery, " she wrote.
The Senator further warned police against being used by State agents to propagate chaos and violence to overturn the will of the people during elections.
According to Kihika, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was reluctant to address the issues despite being fully aware of the situation.
"It is shocking and worrying that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC ) has not acted on this election offense even as the venue, individuals, and police supervisors of the malpractice are well known."
"We urge IEBC to fulfill its role and be the honest arbiter of the Constitution and the people of London Ward, and
indeed Kenya, expect it to be," she concluded.
The activities ahead of the by-elections have had UDA leaders and supporters looking over their shoulders starting with the campaigns.
On February 20, Senator Susan Kihika and Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri were briefly arrested at Nakuru during a campaign rally for the london ward MCA seat after police sealed off the venue and engaged the supporters in running battles.
The by-election will be held on Thursday March 4, 2021, as scheduled by the IEBC.
