180,000 police officers to be trained ahead of August election

Kenya Police Recruitment in Spotlight PHOTO:COURTESY

An estimated 150,000 police officers who will oversee elections will receive training in election laws to effectively deal with lawbreakers.

This is an increase from the 95,000 officers who manned the 2013 elections.

The officers are part of 180,000 personnel expected to ensure that the elections are fair and credible.

Meanwhile, 92 special magistrates have been appointed to hear election disputes while a squad of 105 officers has been established to deal with hate speech and other electoral offences as campaigns kick off on May 28.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said the role of the special officers was to enforce the law before, during and after the elections.

"We will not be political, we will be impartial and we will apply the law as it is. We will take no nonsense from anybody irrespective of political affiliations," said Mr Boinnet during the launch of an election security manual.

A joint team of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the police, the Judiciary and the Director of Public Prosecutions will train a total of 383 national trainers in Nakuru, Mombasa, Meru and Kisumu, who will in turn be deployed to train the 180,000 personnel.

The commission has mapped out hot spots in all the 47 counties to prepare for any risk of political violence.

The Kenya Prisons Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and National Youth Service will be enlisted to boost security. The personnel will be gazetted as special police officers to achieve the required numbers