Matiang’i reassure Kenyans adequate security ahead of August polls

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has reassured Kenyans of adequate security measures to ensure a peaceful general election in August.

Addressing journalists after a meeting with regional security teams today, Matiang’i said he was satisfied with security preparations across all 47 counties.

“All regional commissioners have reported the country is safe. We’ve resolved a few security challenges in Nakuru, Central Kenya Nyanza. We are alert, and we are warning politicians against using gangs and criminals to achieve political goals and will be merciless if we detect any activity aimed at reviving gang activities,” he said.

The security boss who held the second last meeting with the security bosses ahead of the poll declared the country is safe, warning that the security apparatus is on high alert to thwart possible poll chaos.

He further said they were working closely with the electoral commission IEBC to secure the electoral process that is on the home stretch.

“As a government, we are working tirelessly towards facilitating the IEBC in administering the most peaceful election in the history of our country. We are now moving to the last stage of movement of election materials, and we have sufficient resources to do this including vehicles and aerial transport” he noted.

Matiang’i also vindicated that all polling stations had been assessed by IEBC and security teams who are supposed to have a cordial relationship while at the same time revealing a collaborative approach to tackle violence.

“Kenyans expect a peaceful election, and we in the security sector will pull all the stops to ensure we deliver on this mandate,” Matiang’i said.

With just 26 days left until the August 9 poll part of the elaborate security plan includes safeguarding the 46,232 polling stations and movement of election materials.

Surveillance has also been enhanced in areas mapped out as possible hotspots for violence.

The CS made it clear only IEBC and police will be allowed to man the polling stations.