UDA Party now accuses gov't of intimidating its aspirants to defect

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party is now accusing President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee party of harassing its aspirants ahead of the August General Elections.

In a statement issued on Thursday, by the party’s Election Board Chairman Anthony Mwaura claimed that candidates seeking positions in specific regions of the country were being intimidated by the ruling party to defect from UDA.

Areas linked to the alleged intimidationthreats included the Mt Kenya region, Kisii and Nyamira counties.

“United Democratic Alliance has noted with concern and dismay the underhand illegal tactics being deployed by the depleted and desperate Jubilee Party through government agencies to dissuade our aspirants from contesting in the August elections,” read a section of the statement.

UDA outrightly pointed an accusing finger on Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, whom they said were the masterminds orchestrating the said attacks in their backyards in Kisii and Kirinyaga Counties respectively.

The party, which is led by Deputy President William Ruto, cited that some of the threats include anticipated arrests, accusations of tax evasion, trumped-up criminal charges and use of fake opinion polls, which they said was centred on coercing their candidates to decamp to Jubilee.

“Dr Fred Matiang'i has been intimidating UDA aspirants and denying them permission to hold public meetings. The aspirants live in fear because the CS through the provincial administration has ensured that they are constantly harassed,” stated Mwaura.

In Kirinyaga, Mwaura said: “Karanja Kibicho, has seen coordinated harassments of UDA aspirants for gubernatorial, senate, Woman Representative and Member of County Assembly positions.”

The party cited Kerugoya MCA Kamau Murango's case, claiming that the senatorial aspirant had been  nabbed by DCI sleuths in his Embu home, driven to Nairobi for questioning and later urged to "switch his political side to Jubilee Party so that his tribulations could end."

The statement similarly mentioned other cases across the country affecting; Woman Representatives Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi), Gathoni Wamuchomba (Kiambu), and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika who they said had their billboards vandalized.

As UDA condemns the attacks, it has also upheld its prior assertions that ‘the Jubilee party is dead’ and that it would use its legal team to defend its aspirants.

“UDA condemns in the strongest terms possible, these acts of intimidation, which have no space in a democratic country. UDA lawyers will defend any aspirant who is harassed by these criminal gangs,” noted the statement.