A fresh round of heightened political exchanges ensued on Wednesday with President Uhuru Kenyatta now threatening to have any leader endangering the country's peace arrested.
Speaking in Embu and in an apparent reference to Opposition leader Raila Odinga, President Kenyatta warned that his government would deal with anyone planning chaos before, during or after the August 8 General Election.
The Head of State went ahead to term Odinga a "tribalist who does not love peace", rubbishing the Opposition's claims that there was a plan to rig the upcoming polls.
“The Opposition is led by a tribalist who doesn’t like peace. Who is this he claims wants to steal elections? We are winning fair and square,” said President Kenyatta at Siakago town.
“I will not allow anyone in Kenya to lose their lives or property because of elections again. The government will legally deal with leaders planning to cause chaos,” the President stated.
Kenyatta accused the former Prime Minister of taking the country through periods of tension every election year, adding that he was bent on causing chaos if he loses the upcoming election.
However, in a quick response to Kenyatta’s remarks, Odinga declared that he was not afraid of arrest adding that he had spent 9 years in jail.
“Sisi hatuko tayari kuleta fujo lakini hatuwezi kutishwa (We do not plan chaos but we will not be intimidated). “I have stayed in jail for nine years. I am not, and cannot, be intimidated by such threats," Odinga stated during a rally in Changamwe, Mombasa County.
The Opposition leader refuted the claims that he was out to cause chaos, adding that it was President Kenyatta and his Jubilee government who were planning chaos.
“When we were launching the voter listing campaigns, the President was launching police vehicles,” said Mr Odinga, telling his supporters to ensure they protect the ballots during voting, counting and announcement of the results.
At the same time, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery asked Mr Odinga to record a statement with police regarding his recent claims that the government was using the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to rig the elections.
Still on Wednesday National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale led 14 Jubilee members of Parliament in accusing Mr Odinga of preparing his supporters to reject the results and throw the country into turmoil.
