KDF has refuted claims of deployment in election violence hotspots saying that it has no role to play in the management and Conduct of the general elections set for tomorrow.
In an affidavit by the Chief of Operations Brigadier Fredrick Lokia, the force says that there hasn’t been any directive or order that has been issued to the Defense forces or its Units for Operations intended to disenfranchise Kenyans or a section thereof or to participate in the management of the elections.
Lokia says the CS ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government and Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Defense have no powers to deploy the Kenya Defense under any circumstances.
Lokia however says that the need to protect and safeguard the maintenance of national security as defined in the constitution remains an enduring tenant that cannot under any circumstances be abdicated to the detriment of Kenya.
“The joint exercise “Dumisha Utulivu” which was conducted publicly on 9TH June 2017 and 23rd June 2017 was a multi-agency exercise that was intended to train and evaluate the national security but not limited to external threats such as the possible of activities of Al shabab.
The chief of operations was responding to a case filed by NASA in which they are seeking to stop the deployment of military in violence prone areas before, during and after elections.
The opposition argues that such operations during polls will scare away voters.
They argue that deployment of military in specific areas without the approval of Parliament is illegal and aimed at intimidating voters and denying them the right to vote freely.
The case will be heard on September 22nd.
