Record 180,000 security officers to man elections

More than 150,000 security agents will provide crucial services during the August 8 polls.

This is nearly double the number deployed in the 2013 General Election, which was manned by 95,000 officers.

Further, 30,000 electoral officials, including observers, media personnel and more than 80,000 party agents will oversee the polls.

Whereas there are about 100,000 police officers in Kenya, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says it needs at least 150,000 security officers for the exercise.

The rest will be sourced from prisons, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Kenya Forestry Service (KFS) and the National Youth Service (NYS) and be gazetted as special police officers.

The 10,000 recruits who are in police colleges will also be deployed in various parts of the country.

More than 4,000 vehicles, 10 choppers, 40 boats and dozens of donkeys will be used in the operations expected to run for four days.

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said they are ready to facilitate the IEBC to conduct the elections. He said security agencies don’t have any role to play other than facilitation of the electoral body.

“We are ready and specifically to support the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission conduct the polls in a peaceful environment,” said Matiang’i.

He said police may get more choppers from other government agencies if and when needed. The CS said 99 per cent of Kenya is now safe for the exercise and promised to ensure the remaining places are well catered for.

The commanders of KWS, NYS, Prisons and KFS have pledged to give out vehicles and other tools to be used in the election. The security officers have already been jointly trained.

Officials have identified 32 counties where violence may occur before, during and after the elections.

[Cyrus Ombati]