Matiang’i Warns Degree Controversies Heightening Poll Tensions

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 17- Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has warned that protracted controversies surrounding education, integrity and other qualifications of individuals to contest elections could strain security plans for the August poll.

He said the high number of such cases and attempts to pressurize the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and other adjudicating institutions by mobilizing and inciting supporters by involved individuals was raising tensions in the country.

The CS who was addressing a conference of Kenyan diplomats on security preparedness for elections at the Windsor hotel in Nairobi urged for speedy resolution of such disputes.

“ It’s unfortunate that men and women are spending whole days debating whether or not some people went to school. The question of whether one possesses clearly stipulated requirements should be a straightforward yes or no issue,” the CS said.

Although the country was largely peaceful compared to similar periods around previous general elections, the CS said this could be risked by the whipping of emotions around contested eligibility.

“The nature of genuine education is that there is a trail of evidence left behind: there is a classmate who sat with you; there’s is a lecturer who remembers you; there must be records of an exam you sat for; there is a paper you wrote. Why would we be arguing about it?” the CS asked.

Dr. Matiang’i linked the agitation to vie in the elections by aspirants of doubtful qualifications to an upsurge of individuals with criminal records and suspected involvement in illegal activities eyeing various electoral seats.

The CS is on record warning that the next Kenyan Parliament could end up having up to 40 percent of its members drawn from established money launderers and other big-league criminals.

He reiterated his concerns that corruption and the deployment of huge amounts of cash in ongoing campaigns are fueling corruption and creating security challenges, especially around the sharing of funds among rival groups.

He however said overall, the security outlook with less than two months to the August poll, was largely peaceful.

Dr. Matiang’i challenged the diplomats who represent the county as ambassadors and high commissioners to encourage more direct investments in Kenya and to assure investors that the country was a safe and worthy destination.

“Because these ladies and gentlemen are the ones who speak for our country, we’ve asked them to tell all our neighbours and friends in the region and further afield that we do not anticipate any problem. We want to continue our trade and our economic activities,” he said.

He attributed improved security environment to investments in intelligence gathering, employment of more security officers, the formation of specialized Special Purpose Institutions and a multiagency approach to security plans.