Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has warned that the government will deal firmly with any politician out to incite Kenyans into violence or engages in hate speech as the country gears up for the August 8 poll.
Speaking in Garissa on Thursday, Boinnet said they are monitoring keenly some of the utterances attributed to some politicians including threats to national security.
“We are gearing ourselves to providing public safety as the campaigns gather momentum. It should not be lost to anybody that the law on public order has not in any way been varied,” he said.
“We in the national police service will deal very firmly with anyone who breaches any law related to the electoral, public order or any other edict for that matter,” he added.
Boinnet said individuals who will take that direction ‘will have themselves to blame’.
“Any person who incites others, hires goons or seeks services from outlawed criminal groups and in doing so be a threat to national security, will be dealt with very firmly and without regard of any political affiliation they belong,” he said.
On security in North Eastern, Bonnet termed the attacks that have been experienced in Mandera as opportunistic that need to be approached by security agencies in a different way.
He emphasized on the need for various security agencies operating in the region to work closely in combating terrorism, noting that it is this cooperation that has seen a drastic reduction in terror attacks.
He said there is need for the public to cooperate with security agencies, as criminals operate within communities.
The IG disclosed that government has provided equipment needed to combat modern terrorism, to ensure that officers working in the region have morale and confidence