Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has defended calls by the opposition to protect votes during the upcoming 2027 general elections.
The former Deputy President claimed the current security leadership cannot be trusted to safeguard the electoral process.
Speaking after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warned against politicians deploying groups to guard polling stations, Gachagua insisted that citizens have a right to protect their votes.
He likened the move to hiring private security despite the presence of police.
"We saw Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen criticising us on the plans to guard our votes. Are the votes his?" Gachagua said.
"Will someone ask me why I decide to put a watchman to guard my home? That is because there is a police station nearby; you should not put someone to guard you because the government will protect you. If we vote and decide to guard our votes, is there a problem?"
Gachagua claimed the Ministry of Interior could not be trusted to secure the integrity of elections.
"The present Ministry of Interior as currently constituted cannot be trusted to protect our votes. We must protect them," he claimed.
"How can you entrust the hyena with your goats? They will be eaten."
He maintained that opposition supporters would organise themselves to safeguard the vote.
"We have already given political directions; the votes will be cast and protected. Our youths will plan themselves and protect the votes," Gachagua said.
Earlier, Murkomen warned that the government would not allow politicians or civilians to take over security duties at polling stations.
"We will not allow citizens or politicians from any part of the country to guard the polling stations," Murkomen said.
Speaking on August 1, Murkomen cautioned politicians against statements that could fuel political violence ahead of future political activities.
He said the government would not tolerate remarks that could promote hatred, division or unrest.
"'Kuchunga kura' is a coded expression for violence," Murkomen said.
He warned leaders against using language that could incite chaos, saying political competition should not undermine peace and stability.
Murkomen called for political competition to remain issue-based, saying Kenya's development and stability should take precedence over partisan interests.
During the recent by-election in Ol Kalou, IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon repeatedly urged voters to vote peacefully and return home, saying only authorised election officials, agents, observers and accredited personnel should remain within polling stations to facilitate the voting and counting process.
He pointed out that in the last by-election, the Commission observed that there are some Kenyans who behave like super agents around polling stations.
The Commission has maintained that election results are protected by law and that its procedures provide sufficient safeguards to ensure transparency and accountability.
