With barely two months to the elections, security agencies in Elgeyo Marakwet have announced that they will intensify intelligence gathering in the region to include social media platforms.
County Commissioner Fredrick Ndambuki stated the move was made after it was discovered that social media platforms such as WhatsApp were being used to perpetuate hate speech.
In an effort to crack down on hate speech, he revealed that the county investigators were already monitoring WhatsApp groups to nab suspects.
"We will monitor what is going to be posted every minute. Anybody found to have posted hate messages against any group of persons will be arrested," he declared.
Ndambuki was speaking during a peace meeting in Iten where he assured that the government would dedicate enough resources into hunting down on hate mongers.
The administrator insisted that they had adopted the new strategy after concerns of rising incidents where individuals use social media to drive hate agendas against other tribes.
Kerio Valley which is prone to bandit attacks would have more security officers on the ground during the electioneering period.
In the light of deploying police reservists in the troubled area, Ndambuki ordered all those with illegal firearms to surrender them or face the consequences.
He promised that the government would as well crack down on illegal brews before the August polls.
The enhanced security measures come after reports linked the recent heckling of the Deputy President William Ruto in the county to social media users after he endorsed incumbent Governor Alex Tolgos.
