"The media is the greatest player in civic and voter education and IEBC considers it a major stakeholder in the election process by educating voters," Hassan said.
Mr Yusuf Nzibo, an IEBC Commissioner said at the Uwiano forum: " IEBC is involved in the peace initiatives. We are committed to conducting ourselves above board as an electoral body in order to ensure that the whole voting process and votes transmission is professionalised and beyond reproach."
Chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia said, "hate speech has been a major challenge for the commission." Kibunjia added NCIC has entered into partnership with various stakeholders championing for a peaceful election.
The UNDP official challenged the Government to resettle internally displaced persons, warning, "it will be unfortunate to go into the next General Election with thousands of women, children and the elderly in tented camps."
"We must address this problem to alleviate tensions and uncertainties facing those affected since 2008," Mr Chuma said.
unfortunate events
"Personally I was taken aback by the unfortunate events in Malindi recently when the IEBC conducted a mock election. Those were mock elections but the violence was not a mock one," Chuma cautioned.
Kenyans, UNDP said, must be prepared for to cope with likely tensions, conflicts and possible negative outcomes often associated with political competition.
The weighty issues emerged as the election date itself remains unclear with politicians divided whether the polls should be held in December this as has been the tradition over the years or in March 2013 as proposed by IEBC and backed by President Kibaki.
Kimemia said no less than 90,000 police officers will be required to effectively guard 45,000 polling centres countrywide in the first election under the current Constitution.
The Government outlined critical issues that must be addressed in the run up to the general election in order to ensure peaceful transition of leadership in the country.
Kimemia and acting Internal Security Permanent Secretary (PS) Mutea Iringo conceded there were a many challenges to peaceful elections.
