Pending Sh5b threat to election security

By Ally Jamah

Nairobi, Kenya: A police reforms watchdog has warned that security in the forthcoming general elections may be gravely undermined if Treasury does not release Sh5 billion that the police requested to finance their security operations during the crucial period.

In its latest report on police preparedness for the elections, the Usalama Reform Forum expressed concern that failure to release the money in good time amounts to weakening the police capacity to prepare for the elections.

“General elections is one of the largest security operations for the police but we are seeing political games being played by top officials of Treasury and Internal Security. No firm commitments have been made to release the money so far and the elections are only a month away,” said Charles Otieno, a consultant for the group today morning in Nairobi.

In November last year, the police Service requested Sh5 billion from Treasury to finance their security arrangement during the elections but so far no money has been released. Insider reports indicate that the government is only willing to release not more than Sh1.5 billion.

IEBC

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will need the police for ten days before and during the election to provide security in transporting and securing ballot papers and boxes as well as keep order in polling stations.

On his part, the Coordinator of the watchdog Phillip Onguje called on the government to immediately avail at least 2,200 vehicles to the police to facilitate their rapid transport around the country to respond to security threats during the elections.

He suggested that special arrangements could see other government agencies temporarily loan vehicles to the police as long-term arrangements to strengthen police transport are made.

“There is a perception that since the Inspector general of Police David Kimaiyo is in office, security will be guaranteed during the election. But people forget that police leadership need the logistical and financial support to execute his mandate and that support has not been forthcoming so far. Security during the elections appears not to be a priority,” he said.

He added: “ We don’t want a situation where when there Is a security problem before, during and after the elections the Inspector General and his team are quickly blamed yet they didn’t receive the support they required,”

Onguje said that the International Community was more than willing to support the government security agencies to guarantee security through financial and technical assistance but the state is dragging its feet in requesting for their support.

He called called on Kimaiyo to resist all partisan political pressures in his election security strategies saying that his office enjoys constitutional independence and should execute in the best manner that it knows how.