Acting Interior CS Fred Matian’gi. [Photo/ Trending News]
Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matian’gi has warned the opposition that nothing will stop him from protecting the safety of Kenyans during the election period. A defiant Matian’gi said he has the constitutional right to work closely with other institutions, such as the IEBC, ahead of the August 8 general election to ensure all goes well. “Our work is to protect Kenyans and support the IEBC. I will not entertain threats when it comes to safeguarding Kenyans’ interests,” Matiang’i said at Kisii Cathedral on Sunday, as per the Star.The CS’s recent instructions to security officers, set to be involved with the elections, that only people accredited by IEBC will be allowed at the polling station after voting dealt a huge blow to NASA’s call to its supporters to ‘guard votes’. “I want to urge you (police) to follow the law. That circular from the IEBC that says who will be at the polling station is what we shall follow and anyone who is not mentioned in that circular, should be removed from the polling station the fastest way possible and by all means necessary,” the CS instructed, as quoted by Capital News.“Protecting of the ballots is the responsibility of the IEBC. Let us be firm and clear with everyone. We have institutions; this is not a banana country,” he added. NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga had accused Dr Matiang’i of planning to help Jubilee rig the elections, but the CS says the opposition leader was misleading Kenyans. “My work is to work with it in providing police officers to polling stations during Election Day,” he said.