Sabina Chege under fire over 'we stole elections' remarks

Speaking in Vihiga County on Thursday during a campaign tour of Azimio La Umoja-allied leaders, Sabina Chege said there was some truth in claims that votes were stolen in the last election and the same could be replicated in this year's polls.

"Mnajua kule Central nimeskia wengine wakisema tuliwaibia. Kuna ka ukweli kidogo. Lakini kama tulijua kuiba... si hata hii tutafanya ninii... Kwani wanafikiria wao ndio wajanja? she posed.

Her remarks have now triggered a political fireball with leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto's UDA party coming out guns blazing to castigate the Murang'a Woman Rep.

On Friday, during UDA's campaign rally in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, various leaders who accompanied the deputy president accused their rivals in the Azimio la Umoja movement of plotting to rig the upcoming August elections.

DP Ruto rubbished Sabina Chege's remarks even as he exuded confidence that he would win the elections. At the same time, the DP warned against any attempt to rig the forthcoming elections

"Our competitors have now accepted that we have defeated them in terms of agenda and votes... Their option now is to rig the elections. We want to tell them we are ready for them. We have God and Kenyans on our side," said DP Ruto.

He added: "If you look at us and this entire brigade that I am leading, do we look like people whose votes can be stolen. We shall beat our competitors very early in the morning."

On his part, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi said any talk about stolen elections is irresponsible and should not be tolerated in a democratic space.

"You saw one of those agents of project Azimio in Vihiga yesterday saying their agenda is stealing votes. Will we accept that? Will you accept that? We cannot afford to have elections stolen. If you have been talking about uniting Kenyans and having peace in this country... Then you as Azimio should be the last ones talking about stealing elections. It is a very irresponsible statement... very unfortunate," said Mudavadi.

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua said UDA was well prepared for the coming elections, noting that they would deploy at least seven agents in all polling stations to guard their votes.

"We shall have seven agents to guard William Ruto's votes," said Gachagua.

Garissa Town MP Aden Duale demanded that President Kenyatta and IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati come out and address the rigging remarks made by Sabina Chege.

"The President must speak today and tell the people of Kenya whether he stole elections in 2017. The IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, you must speak to what Sabina Chege said that 2017 you rigged the election in favour of Uhuru Kenyatta and that in 2022 there are plans to steal the election," said Duale.

"IEBC must speak to the matter it is not a small issue," he added.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen echoed his counterparts' remarks saying: "We are being told that those people of Azimio have realised they have no numbers and now they want to steal elections. We want Chebukati to address the nation on whether there has been any meeting with Sabina Chege, Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta to plan vote rigging?"