The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate, William Ruto, has written to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman, Wafula Chebukati, over alleged plans to rig the upcoming General Election.

In a letter dated Saturday, July 30, and made public on August 3, UDA national chief agent, Abraham Kithure Kindiki, implicated President Uhuru Kenyatta in a scheme to use public officers to interfere with the electoral process.

Kindiki argued that police officers and national government administrators were being used to compromise the August 9 votes in favour of Azimio La Umoja’s Raila Odinga.

*Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki pictured on April 9, 2022.* PHOTO: COURTESY

“We have received credible information that the Office of the President is deploying police officers to intimidate and harass voters to support the presidential candidate for Azimio,”
Kindiki’s letter read in part.

He further alleged that the government had resorted to voter bribery by deploying administrators on the election date to compromise voters in Kenya Kwanza strongholds.

“We have also reliably learnt that the public officers may be deployed by the state to induce voters and in some cases intimidate them by compromising the peace on the election day.”

The outgoing Tharaka Nithi Senator accused the Head of State of committing an electoral offence, not only by publicly endorsing a presidential candidate but also by allegedly using state resources to fund his campaign.

“Section 16 of the Public Officers Ethics Act (2003) requires complete political neutrality by all public officers and prohibits them from acting as agents for or furthering the interests of a political party or candidate in an election,”
Kindiki argued.

Ruto wants the Chebukati-led Commission to launch investigations into the reports arguing that it may undermine the credibility of the August 9 polls.

On Wednesday, August 3, the President, while on a tour of Kisii, termed the recent complaints by his deputy as kicks of a dying horse after realising that his presidential bid was in turmoil.

He likened Ruto to a driver of a bus who had an untrustworthy conductor who deviated his attention from the road. He added that the ‘driver’ ends up losing control and lands the vehicle in a ditch.

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i, has also exonerated himself and his Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, from accusations that they were the masterminds of buying national ID cards and distributing inciteful pamphlets.

Sports News

Kenya’s sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala Bags Gold in 100m finals in Birmingham, UK

August 4, 2022 Ian Amulega

Kenya’s sprinting sensation, Ferdinand Omanyala, bagged the country’s first gold medal in the ongoing Birmingham Commonwealth Games on Wednesday, August 3.

The eighth-fastest man of all time over the 100m distance clocked 10.02 seconds to win relatively comfortably ahead of continental rival and defending champion, Akani Simbine, of South Africa.

Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon finished a hundredth of a second behind Simbine to take bronze in a hotly contested finish, with Jeremiah Azu of Wales in fifth with 10.19 seconds.

Omanyala made history in 60 years, the last time Kenya won a gold medal in 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games.

He took charge of the race from the gun and with his traditional burst in the final 50m, it was nothing but a gold medal for the fastest man in Africa.

It is his first ever gold medal in an international competition having missed out at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Indoor Championships and the World Championships last month, where he reached the semis in all competitions.

Omanyala expressed gratitude after the win, which has been long overdue owing to his stellar performance in previous competitions.

“For the glory and honour of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for the support and the positivity,”
Omanyala stated on his historic win.

The Commonwealth gold is a massive reward for him especially after the woes that befell him prior to the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he arrived just three hours to his race.

The fatigue he had to endure saw him fail to get to the final, but has now underlined his status as the best sprinter in Africa at the moment.

He was knocked out of the Oregon World Championships finals after he emerged fifth in the semi finals.
Omanyala recorded 10:14 seconds during the race that took place on July 17.

The 100m champion came fifth after Oblique Seville of Jamaica who clocked 9:30 seconds, Marvin Bracy (9:93 seconds), Aaron Brown (10:06 seconds) and Favour Oghene of Nigeria (10:12 seconds).

Politics & Governance

George Wajackoyah’s running-mates unmasks shocking details in messy fallout

August 3, 2022 Ian Amulega

Roots Party running mate Justina Wamae has accused her boss George Wajackoyah of secretly supporting the Azimio ala Umoja coalition led by Raila Odinga.

Speaking to Citizen on Wednesday, August 3, Wamae disclosed that Wajackoyah was going against the official position of the Roots Party.
She added that she had not been consulted despite her position in the party and her name being on their ticket.

“It is true Wajackoyah is supporting Azimio but we have not discussed that as a party. If we need to take a stand on who to support, I will support the contrary. We have been branded a project twice but we have not agreed as a party,”
she stated..

Wamae however maintained that she will not support Azimio if the party takes that stand.

“Let me say this, and we need to take a stand on who to support out of the three other candidates who are our worthy opponents, I say that I will support the contrary,”
she stated.

“But as I speak we have not agreed as a party and we are still popularizing our agenda as Roots Party and our manifesto. But I seek to speak as Justina Wangoi Wamae coz I have an independent mind and we have our own supporters,”
she added.

Justina’s sentiments come after the party dismissed claims that Wajackoyah had endorsed the former Prime Minister.

Through an official statement, Wajackoyah dismissed the allegations accusing Azimio of editing the viral video to insinuate that he had endorsed Raila at an entertainment joint.

Roots party insisted that Wajackoyah is still in the Presidential race.

“We would like to categorically state that we have a presidential candidate who is on the Ballot and will win this Election. We have not and will not endorse any other candidate.

We would like to distance ourselves from those claims and assure our supporters that victory is coming,”
their statement read in part.

Wajackoyah and Wamae have been placed third in the presidential race according to recent opinion polls released by different pollsters.

Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) placed them third in Nairobi county according to the poll released on Tuesday, August 2.

Local News

VIDEO: Mzungu manhandled after a racial slur on guard at a Nairobi mall

August 3, 2022 Ian Amulega

Social media was on Wednesday morning, August 3, awash with a video of a foreigner in a violent altercation with security guards at AdLife Plaza in Kilimani, Nairobi county.

In a video shared by journalist Saddique Shaban, the foreigner hurled insults at two security guards before reinforcement arrived to intervene and restrain him.
The foreigner was knocked down but kept fighting back attempting to kick the security guards in a bid to break free.

An unknown female friend rushed to the foreigner’s aid, pushing the guards away and trying to get him out of the scuffle.

“I want you one-on-one,” the foreigner is heard telling the guards after getting on his feet.
The lady stepped in front of the guard to hold them back and stop them from reigning more blows on him to no avail.

A police officer in uniform rushed to the scene and began restraining the foreigner. At the time, passersby who had gathered at the scene expressed their disapproval of the foreigner’s insults and wanted to assault him.

Calm was restored after the foreigner was put in handcuffs and taken into custody.

According to Shaban, the couple had just left a club at the plaza after a night of merrymaking. They broke a glass of sauce and made a fuss when asked to pay for the item.

“The couple had just left a club, located in the property. They broke a glass of sauce but didn’t like being asked to pay for it. They started assaulting the guards and the employees,”
he stated.

Efforts by Kenyans.co.ke to reach Kilimani OCPD were futile as he was unreachable for a comment.
The journalist also decried being assaulted by an officer in plain clothes attire.

“Quick police action saved the couple from further wrath of the public. The intoxicated duo were taken away by plainclothes officers who assaulted me in the process of filming this and confiscated my identity card shortly after the last frame. You can see the cop approaching me,”
he stated.

Watch Video below!