More security officers in areas where IEBC staff feel threatened

More security officers will be deployed to hot-spot areas during next week's repeat presidential election, the electoral commission announced on Tuesday.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) maintained that all plans for the election to be held on October 26, including security arrangements and network coverage for transmission of results, were complete.

The IEBC also clarified that the number of polling centres without 3G network had reduced from 11,000 to 4,500.

“We are deploying two security officers to each polling station apart from some that have been identified as hot spots where we will have six security officers for each. These include regions where our staff have been intimidated and received threats on their lives,” said IEBC ICT manager Albert Gogo.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ briefing on the commission’s preparedness, Mr Gogo said they were ready to deliver a fair and credible election based on the recommendations of the Supreme Court, which nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta’s August 8 victory.

Civil society

The players, who included governors and civil society, were divided on whether or not the country should hold an election next week.

While some urged IEBC to seek clarification from the Supreme Court on whether to postpone the poll, others said it had to go on to give Kenyans a chance to get on with their daily activities.

West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo was happy with IEBC's preparedness.

“Let us go on with the voting and forget the few people who are out to confuse the majority of Kenyans. In my county, residents are waiting to vote next week,” said the governor.

The Consumers Federation of Kenya called for a postponement of the poll.