Presidential candidates will get state security of at least ten armed police officers to ensure their safety ahead of the August 9 elections.
The breakdown of the ten officers will include two officers based in both their city and rural homes. The security will also be extended to their running mates on a 24-hour basis and into two shifts.
Five police officers will trail the candidates and their running mates everywhere they campaign from 9 June.
The head of the presidential candidates’ security team will be headed by an officer of the rank of inspector. The inspector will coordinate the movement of the candidates for security purposes.
Inspector General of police Hilary Mutyambai has set up a pool of at least 200 officers to be deployed immediately after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission gazettes the cleared candidates.
The officers will be drawn from General Service Unit, Kenya Police, Administration Police and Prisons Service.
On the other hand, the candidates and their running mates will provide logistics, including sentry rooms and vehicles for their movements.
According to the Constitution, the presidential candidates’ security has been given a serious priority, and clear directives have been given on what to do in the case of death.
As per Article 38(8)(b), the death of a candidate for election as President or Deputy President on or before the scheduled election date is one of the reasons that would lead to the cancellation of the presidential.