Police Spokesman Charles Owino has relayed plans to deploy army soldiers to man telephone poles in five counties ahead of the August elections.
The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers will be charged with protecting the telecommunication masts in Lamu, Tana River, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera, which border Somalia.
Following a decision by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to transmit election results electronically, reinforced protection in risk-prone areas will be required.
Telephone operators that will work with the IEBC are Safaricom, Airtel and Telcom Kenya, subsequently, their boosters will be secured from any attacks.
Mr Owino conveyed that the operation would cost the taxpayers Sh1.5 Billion which has already been authorised by the Treasury.
The deployment of security officers in areas perceived as Opposition strongholds has not augured well with the National Super Alliance (NASA) affiliated parties.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Agnes Zani on Friday delivered a statement accusing President Uhuru Kenyatta of the unlawful deployment of military troops in Opposition strongholds.
Dr Zani declared that the troops were being deployed to the regions to suppress voter turn-out, condemning the act as an infringement on the democratic rights of all Kenyans
Read More: ODM Exposes What KDF Soldiers Are Doing in NASA Strongholds
