The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced plans to deploy plain-clothed police officers in the hotly contested areas ahead of the November 27 by-elections.
IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana on Tuesday, November 25, said that the growing political temperatures in some areas had prompted the Commission to make heavy deployments.
While assuring members of the public about their safety, Mukhwana noted that the competitive nature of the by-elections had triggered disagreements and that adequate security was necessary to ensure the credibility of the polls.
"The competitiveness of these elections could possibly trigger disagreements, and tempers will rise, and it has already risen," said Mukhwana.
"But we have put in place adequate security, and there is a high level of security in the hotly contested areas. We have deployed plainclothes and uniformed officers in these areas," he added.
He reiterated that the Commission will engage and deploy all necessary security apparatus to ensure the safety of the voter and the electoral officials.
This comes amidst security concerns over the planned by-elections in Mbeere-North, Malava and Kasipul parliamentary seats, which have seen supremacy battles play out in public.
For instance, in Kasipul Constituency, two top candidates, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party's Boyd Were and his Independent Counterpart, Philip Aroko, were recently fined for allegedly instigating violence in the area.
IEBC, in its announcement on Wednesday, November 19, directed the two candidates to each pay a fine of Ksh1 million over the violence witnessed in the constituency during the campaigns.
The duo were ordered to deposit the amount to IEBC within 48 hours; failure to do so would result in further disciplinary action, including a possible disqualification.
Similarly, in Malava, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate David Ndakwa was on Monday, November 24, accused of allegedly bribing voters and using state machinery in his campaigns.
However, Ndakwa has since dismissed the claims, terming them as mere political propaganda. He maintained that he campaigned using his own resources, just like his competitors.
