DCI Launches Probe On Azimio’s Election Rigging Claims
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched a probe on claims recently fronted by Azimio la Umoja coalition, that the 2022 August elections were rigged.
In a statement dated January 25, DCI boss Amin Mohamed noted that the police branch has received numerous complaints regarding the elections, faulting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for running a faulty election.
Mohamed added that he is privy to claims by the complainants alleging that there is an “official” copy of the Presidential results to justify their claims.
“Instructively, the complainants contend that there are various manipulations that point to documentary falsification and outright forgery of the subject documents,” read part of the statement.
“Illustratively, they have pointed out various alleged irregularities including glaring inconsistencies in the watermarks featured in the forms labeled as 34B and which are being passed off as documents emanating from IEBC.”
The DCI boss therefore, acting under a constitutional mandate accorded to the investigative branch, noted that his team will be conducting investigations to verify the veracity of the claims.
“Pertinently, the Directorate is investigating the validity and authenticity of the documents in question, In addition to whether offences relating to forgery and falsification of document have been committed under Sections 345 – 348 of the Penal Code,” said Mohamed.
IEBC has also been requested to present their certified Forms 34B used in declaring the presidential results to the DCI headquarters, to aid in the probe.
“For the purpose of lawfully processing the complaints referred above in line with our mandate, we hereby request that you furnish us with the certified copies of Forms 34B that were used to tally, verify and declare the result of the presidential elections of 9th August 2022.”
This comes as the Azimio la Umoja coalition, led by its leader Raila Odinga, made a public announcement claiming that they are in the custody of a report showing that the 2022 election was rigged in favor of President William Ruto.
Raila, therefore, demanded that the Kenya Kwanza government should resign and likewise asked his supporters to oppose the UDA party rule, which he claims, they do not support.
The Azimio leader spoke to a recent dossier by a purported IEBC whistleblower claiming that Odinga won the 2022 election.
On August 15, 2022, IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati declared Ruto the president-elect after he received 7,176,141 votes, representing 50.49 percent of the total votes cast, while Odinga received 6,942,930 votes, representing 48 percent of the votes cast.
According to the report, Odinga won the election with 8,170,355 votes, beating Ruto, who received 5,919,973 votes.
