United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho of intimidating aspirants in various parts of the country it considers to be their strongholds.
In a statement issued on Thursday, March 17, UDA alleged that various party aspirants were living in fear of the two public servants.
UDA's National Elections Board Chairman Anthony Mwaura wrote that CS Matiang'i was denying aspirants permits to hold political rallies.
Part of his claims was that UDA aspirants in Nyamira and Kisii were campaigning in fear and trepidation of provincial administration officers serving in Matiang'i's docket.
"The CS has intimidates the aspirants by denying them permission to hold public meetings. The provincial administration has ensured that they are constantly harassed," Mwaura stated.
"Kibicho has seen coordinated harassments of UDA aspirants for gubernatorial, senatorial, woman representative and Member of County Assembly positions. The intimidation has taken the form of arrests, accusations of tax evasion, trumped up criminal charges and use of fake opinion polls."
Mwaura as well as alleged that on Wednesday, March 16, Kirinyaga County Majority leader Kamau Murango, was arrested from his home and driven to Nairobi DCI headquarters where he was grilled.
The party claimed that Murango was accused of forging documents in 2020 but was also not allowed to present the authentic documents in his defence.
Mwaura stated that the police assured him that they would drop all the charges he was facing on the condition that he joins the Jubilee Party.
"Several UDA MCA aspirants from Kirinyaga have been called and coerced to join the ruling party. They have been promised money and logistical support.
"The aspirants pointed out a former personal assistant to Kibicho serving as a commissioner at National Land Commission as the mastermind to the intimidation efforts," Mwaura lamented.
Mwaura further claimed that billboards mounted by UDA aspirants such as Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, and Woamn Representatives Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi), Gathoni Wamuchomba (Kiambu), Cate Waruguru (Laikipia) were vandalized. He accused the state of sponsoring the attacks.
Matiang'i and Kibicho have not yet responded to the allegations.
