Tight security in Nyeri as Kenya bars British Army from carrying Nyaatha's remains

Kenya: Authorities in Nyeri County are taking no chances with the safety and security of the thousands of people attending the historic elevation of Catholic nun, Irene Stefani, one step closer to sainthood.

Thousands of police officers were Friday deployed in the county to beef up security in one of the biggest gathering of the Catholic faithful in the country and the continent in decades.

Beatification is one step away from sainthood, which is the highest honour that can be bestowed on a Catholic, who died after living an exemplary life.

Nyeri Town and Gikondi Village were Friday teeming with armed police officers on foot, vehicle and chopper patrols.

The elite General Service Unit with paramilitary training, the Kenya Police, the prison warders and even Kenya Wildlife Service rangers were all part of the security team deployed for the event.

At least 15 police patrol vehicles were spotted within Mukurweini Town while GSU officers patrolled the streets of Nyeri, Karatina, Mweiga and Chaka during the day as well as late into the evening.

Prison officers and Administration Police officers were on foot patrols while the regular police and traffic officers manned the roads.

The venues for different mini-events of the ceremony and the main Cathedral, were screened using metal detectors and a full body search.

Nyeri County Commissioner Micheal Ole Tialal said there was enough security to keep residents and pilgrims attending the event safe.

Tialal also confirmed that British officers, who were supposed to carry the remains of Sister Stefani from the Mathari Chapel, will not do so after protest by the Kenyan government.

A shoe salesman Francis Mureithii said that the number of police officers in the town was very alarming.

"There are more police officers in Nyeri town than there are residents, and they are all over covering each street and corner,"Mureithii said.

Central Region Traffic Commandant, Samuel Bore told The Standard that there will be only be one entry and exit into Gikondi village in Mukurweini Constituency for the night vigil and mass.

Free parking spaces will be provided at various points of access to Nyeri town. Those accessing Nyeri from Karatina will be required to park their vehicles at Wambugu farm and Ruringu stadium.

Motorists entering Nyeri from Nanyuki will park their cars at Nyeri Baptist High school and Moi Nyeri Complex, while those traveling from Nyahururu will park at St Lourdes Girls secondary school.

Venue access stickers will be issued to motorists who wish to access Nyeri town based on various categories. VIPs will be issued with green stickers while vetted PSV operators will be issued with blue stickers. Utility vehicles and essential services vehicles will have brown stickers.

Public transport service operators within Nyeri County will be allowed to operate within their terminus.

Bore urged matatus, taxis and boda boda operators to adhere to the traffic rules and marshals stationed within the designated routes.

Tialal assured traders within Nyeri town that the program of the event would be conducted with little disruption of daily routines.