October 26 Repeat Poll Disrupters Will Face The Law – Uhuru Says At Mashujaa Day Celebration

President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned that any person threatening to disrupt the October 26 repeat poll will face the full force of the law.

Uhuru made this known during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Uhuru Park, Nairobi, adding that police officers have been deployed in every corner of the country to protect those willing to vote.

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“There are those who are planning to vote and those planning to boycott, let us all respect the rights of each other to overcome period that has become a nightmare to the country, Kenya is bigger than individuals and we need to move forward,” said Uhuru during his address.

His statement comes as the opposition has announced that it will hold peaceful demonstrations on that day and will boycott the polls unless several demands are met. Those demands include the firing of the electoral commission’s CEO Ezra Chiloba as well as the cancellation of contracts with some companies supplying election material.

Uhuru said Kenya cannot stay in a permanent state of elections noting that the economy must move on.

“It’s my appeal to every Kenyan to exercise their rights on Thursday. Those who want to vote must be allowed to vote our country must move forward,” he said.

The President warned those threatening the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) staff of unspecified consequences saying such acts will not be tolerated.

“Kenyans have a right to demonstrate as captured in our constitution but the protests must be conducted within the law,” he added.

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Kenyans turned out in large numbers to mark this year’s Mashujaa Day in Nairobi despite calls to boycott.

Uhuru promised to establish a council to take care of heroes’ interest.

“They will come up with solutions of welfare and support the heroes and heroines,” he said.

Deputy William Ruto said it was because of freedom fighters that Kenya enjoys the freedom that it has.

“We go back to the ballot to defend our right to choose, to defend our democracy, to defend our constitution,” he said.

President Kenyatta also announced that his government had set aside KSh25bn for free secondary school education which starts January 2018.