Matiang’i: 8 Arrested Over Hate Leaflets

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has said that at least eight people have been arrested in relation to hate leaflets reportedly warning some communities to leave Uasin Gishu ahead of the August 9 presidential election. 

According to CS Matiang’i, who says the culprits will be arraigned, a security review is ongoing to resolve growing anxiety in two regions of the Rift Valley. 

The CS added that none of the eight individuals is an employee of the office of the president as claimed by Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate William Ruto.

“We are doing a security review especially in view of occurrences of a bit of anxiety in one or two regions of the rift valley,” CS Matiang’i said on Tuesday. 

“We have 8 suspects who we suspected of sharing the leaflets and they should be taken to court, none of those people are employees of the president.”

The head of the Interior Ministry stated that the National Security Council has directed the deployment of additional resources.

“I confirm that the national security council has ordered more resources, you will see more of our security teams in Molo, Kuresoi, Nessuit just to be ready to rise up to any challenge,” CS Matiang’i added. 

According to Matiang’i, security teams will increase patrol at the Uasin Gishu and Eldoret borders, including the deployment of additional aerial resources if any challenges arise.

Simultaneously, CS Matiang’i reaffirmed his Ministry’s commitment to maintaining peace during and after the elections.

According to Matiang’i, each county and sub-county has a multi-agency elections preparation committee tasked with ensuring peaceful elections.

“Each one of these county commissioners that you see here have created their multi-agency elections preparedness committee in their counties,” CS Matiang’i said.

“Each of these commissioners is meeting religious leaders, civic leaders in their counties discussing the peace and stability of their counties.” 

“I can assure you, I have intelligence officers here, Kenyans are peaceful and are determined to have a peaceful election.” 

Meanwhile, a multi-command center has been established in Nakuru. According to CS Matiang’i, the center can make a call if necessary.

This revelation comes a day after Deputy President William Ruto accused ‘certain’ members of the president’s office of distributing the pamphlets with the intent of causing discord in the country.

The leaflets contained threats that compelled people to vote for a specific faction in the August 9 general election.

“I want to tell my friend Mr President, the same way you told off (DCI George) Kinoti when he started that nonsense of post-election violence please tell off the characters at the office of the president who are now printing pamphlets to cause disharmony in the Republic of Kenya, they need to stop because they are not about to succeed.”