By Titus Too

Security has been beefed up in Burnt Forest to ensure a peaceful referendum process.

There was heavy presence of regular, Administration Police and GSU hours before the start of Wednesday’s voting.

Similar patrols were evident in Eldoret town, Cheptiret, Kimumu and parts of Nandi District.

Burnt Forest has been adversely affected by ethnic flare-ups after every successive general election since 1992.

Residents on Tuesday expressed confidence that there will be peace after the referendum in an area where reconciliatory meetings between different communities have been going on.

"There is heavy presence of police officers and we welcome this. Let them protect us because we pay them through our taxes," said Elijah Lagat, the Burnt Forest town council chairman.

Lagat said business was on as usual, but added the area should not have been classified as a hot spot.

"It is traumatising, noting that affected communities are coexisting after peace building meetings," said Mr Lagat.

Other leaders like Wareng County Council Chairman Paul Kiprop termed the deployment of officers ahead of the referendum voting intimidating.

He said there was no tension in Eldoret and residents would turn out in large numbers to vote.

"We, as leaders, are advocating peace and we also hope the outcome of the polls will be fair," said Kiprop.

At the same time, a workers union in the expansive tea estates in Nandi Hills released its members on Monday to allow them take part in the referendum.

"Workers were paid on Monday to allow those who wanted to travel to go and take part in the exercise," Joshua Oyuga, the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union national treasurer said.

Mr Oyuga said there was heavy security patrols in the estates as early as Monday, and said the referendum process would proceed peacefully.

　

GLANCE BOX

Burnt Forest experienced post-election violence in 2008

Some local civic leaders say heavy police presence is instilling fear in residents

Eldoret town is under-populated because most residents have travelled to their rural homes