Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has issued a new directive to Security Chiefs in National Super Alliance (NASA) strongholds ahead of Thursday's repeat presidential poll.
Speaking during a meeting with security officers at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) on Monday, Dr Matiang'i urged the county chiefs to hold dialogue with politicians in the Opposition strongholds.
He further asked security chiefs to exercise restraint while warning that stern action would be taken against rioters and looters during the electioneering period.
"Our job is to implement the laws given to us by Parliament. The provisions of the Public Order Act are very clear. As the national government, we will facilitate the IEBC with all they require to conduct the repeat polls without fear or favor," he declared.
[caption caption="Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i addressing Security Chiefs at Kenya School of Government on Monday"]
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He added that the current situation had not been experienced before and it was the responsibility of the security agencies to keep the country together.
On Sunday, President Uhuru Kenyatta denied allegations by the Opposition that the government was planning to deploy the military in opposition strongholds during the election.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, President Kenyatta stated that the claims were mere propaganda aimed at creating fear.
"This is not the first time. If you recall during the August 8th election they made the same allegations. I want a single individual to produce evidence of where the military was deployed. This is propaganda. This is an attempt to create fear," he stated.
Regarding the security of voters in the repeat election, the President assured Kenyans that they should turn up in large numbers and exercise their democratic right.
"I want to reiterate what I have always stated that Kenyans have nothing to fear in exercising their democratic rights.
"We have ensured that our security agencies are properly deployed to ensure that everyone who wants to vote is able to do so with a guarantee of his/her security," he stated.
President Kenyatta made the remarks following allegations by NASA leader Raila Odinga that the government was planning to deploy the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in his strongholds.
[caption caption="Security Chiefs at the Kenya School of Government on Monday"]
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