MPs Sudi, Barasa: What we know about plans to rig presidential elections

Two Kenya Kwanza legislators are alleging there is a plot to rig the forthcoming general election in favour of Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa said the scheme orchestrated by what they termed a deep state was to use ICT experts to tamper with the result transmission on Election Day.

The duo, who took to their social media pages, to make the alarming assertions claimed ICT cabinet secretary Joe Mucheru was behind the order which includes interference in the internet exchange to manipulate the results.

“We are aware they are working on an elaborate rigging scheme currently being deployed by various ICT experts under instructions of CS Mucheru. The plan involves the interference of the internet exchange on Election Day and use of various data centres to manipulate election results,” Sudi claimed.

The data centres, he said, are heavily secured and equipped with results manipulation set to be done by introducing algorithms to achieve the already pre-set tally to hand Odinga victory.

CS Mucheru has in the past denied any plans to rig the elections in favour of Raila.

Barasa on his part appeared to give an impression of a plan on their wing to counter the alleged rigging plot saying, “We are aware of the evil plans to manipulate the presidential election results using ICT systems. Kenyans should relax; admission of ICT courses was not a preserve of certain people.”

It was still unclear if the two outspoken MPs have made official complaints to relevant authorities over the matter.

Our efforts to reach them went unsuccessful.

Sudi, however, urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and share such information saying those behind it will not succeed.

“We encourage our supporters to be vigilant and share more information on these evil schemes. We will defeat them. We have Kenyans behind us,” he added.

This is not the first time the leaders aligned with Deputy President William Ruto are making the allegations and pointed an accusing finger at CS Mucheru among other state officers.

In May, Ruto's presidential secretariat reproached the CS while asking IEBC to ensure a free, fair and credible election at every level across the country.

This came after a widely circulated video clip in which the cabinet secretary is heard declaring support for Odinga to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Of particular concern is the emergence of the outrageous video clip of ICT CS Joe Mucheru pledging his allegiance, committing public resources and institutions and declaring state support for Azimio la Umoja,” the team said in a statement.

The CS, in response, distanced himself saying the Kenya Kwanza were fearful of losing the election.

Ruto has also beforehand engaged in a war of words with Odinga over the scheme to rig the August election.

In March, Odinga termed the remarks by Ruto on Kenya’s democracy as reckless, irresponsible, and uncalled for.

This comes after Ruto while visiting the US gave a detailed account of what he said in a grand scheme to force Kenyans into a pre-determined presidential election. 

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