Heavy police presence in Rift Valley

By Standard Team

There is a heavy presence of security personnel in Central and South Rift as residents prepare to vote.

Contingents of armed police officers are patrolling the streets, estates and villages in areas identified as violence hot spots during the referendum.

On Monday, Rift Valley PC Osman Warfa said 18,000 GSU officers had been deployed in the province.

The officers comprising the GSU, Administration Police and regular police are on stand by to deal with any eventuality during and after the vote. The government has also deployed police helicopters to reinforce the situation in the areas.

In Kipkelion District, which was the epicentre of the violence after the 2007 presidential election, security agents patrolled the villages as IIEC officials distributed ballot materials.

Local DC Adan Harakhe warned residents the officers would deal firmly with those bent on causing trouble.

In the neighbouring Kericho East and Kericho West districts, armed officers are patrolling urban centres.

The tea estates, which employ thousands of people, have also been secured.

Kericho East DC Samuel Njora and his Kericho West counterpart Jamleck Mbuba said areas bordering Nyakach and Nyando districts are the centre of focus to ensure peace.

In Sotik, Bureti and Borabu districts, common borders also classified as hot spots, officers are on patrol to stop a recurrence of the 2008 post-election violence.

Interim Independent Electoral Commission South Rift co-ordinator Japheth Yegon said every thing was in place and assured voters they would cast their votes freely.

In Nakuru town, police and the Provincial Administration have dispelled rumours of a curfew.

Tension was high on Monday evening as the newly deployed GSU officers patrolled the town.

Local Police Commander Johnston Ipara said there was no need for a curfew as there were no incidents of insecurity.

“A curfew is only required when there are incidents of insecurity but so far we see no need as the town is calm and we will ensure it remains so during and after voting,” he said.

The Narok Security Committee has put elaborate security measures in place in today’s referendum.

There had been reports some residents had started leaving for fear of attacks.

A check in Mulot, Munyas, and Sogoo in Narok South indicated some people are leaving their homes.

Most of those leaving are farm labourers and peasant farmers, who were targets in the 2008 post-election violence.

“We don’t know what will happen after the referendum. We are taking precautions not to be targeted like in the last elections,” said Peter Nyangweso, a farm.

—Reports By Peter Mutai, Stella Mwangi and Kipchumba Kemei

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