KDF boss sends rare warning message to Raila’s team

The Chief of General Staff in the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Major General Samson Mwathethe has issued a rare warning message to NASA leader Raila Odinga’s campaign team.

Mwathethe raised issue with the statement by some of Odinga’s allies that there would be no election in some of their strongholds.

The KDF boss stated that every Kenyan must be allowed to vote and that those who do not wish to vote should stay away from the process.

Odinga had mentioned that he would lead Opposition supporters in staging mega demonstrations on Thursday when the repeat elections are scheduled to take place.

"Everybody has a right to vote or not vote. Those who would like to vote should go, those who do not should remain at home. The day will pass and Kenya will continue," Mwathethe stated.

The military boss also faulted the secession talk fronted by a section of NASA leaders, adding that such plans could plunge the entire country into war.

Mwathethe gave examples of countries he had visited in his long military career where civil war broke as a result of divisive talk by politicians.

“In Iraq, for example, I saw a big mass grave that had many bodies bundled together. I do not want to witness that, let us respect each other,’’ he remarked.

The KDF general spoke on Saturday during the burial ceremony of Assistant Superintendent of Police Grace Gathoni Mung’aro, a sister to Jubilee politician Gideon Mung’aro at Dabaso in Kilifi county.