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A political storm has erupted following controversial remarks by United Democratic Alliance Secretary General Hassan Omar, prompting sharp criticism from Government Spokesperson Charles Owino.
The dispute centers on comments made by Omar during a political engagement in Mombasa, where he suggested that supporters should mobilize deceased voters and capture their fingerprints before burial so that even the dead would vote for President William Ruto.
Addressing the issue, Owino firmly distanced the administration from the remarks, emphasizing that election management bodies must intervene when political rhetoric threatens stability.
Owino stated that the head of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is expected to take stern action against Omar because enforcing compliance and preserving electoral integrity falls directly within their mandate.
Calling the pronouncement exceptionally careless, Owino remarked that such language is completely unexpected from the secretary general of a ruling party.
He stressed that such assertions heighten political volatility, adding that Omar must take individual responsibility for his utterances rather than attributing them to government policy.
The contentious statements triggered widespread concern among election observers and civil society groups, who warned that talking about manipulating biometric voter identification severely compromises public trust in the democratic process.
Responding to the mounting anxiety, the electoral commission clarified that its voter verification technology relies on sophisticated biometric protocols, including iris scanning alongside fingerprint checks, making it technically impossible for deceased individuals to be authenticated at polling stations.
Despite the technical assurances, Owino insisted that high-ranking political officials must practice utmost restraint.
He maintained that institutional credibility relies heavily on leaders upholding public discipline, cautioning that inflammatory declarations only serve to inflame partisan tensions as the country prepares for future electoral contests.
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