The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have been sent to Kilifi, Tana River, and Lamu Counties to beef up security against any threats during the electioneering period.
Tana River County Commissioner Oningo’oi Olesosion confirmed the deployment, adding that Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), Quick Response Team (QRT) and General Service Unit (GSU) had also been deployed to manage security in the border areas.
According to the Commissioner, the heavy deployment is to protect the Counties that border the Boni forest from any external threats.
[caption caption="File image of KDF at a past operation"]
“We have permanent patrol teams of KDF, RDU and QRT along the Witu-Minjila road. The area is well taken care of.
“We have enough security personnel in Kipini because this is part of Tana River that borders Boni Forest. We have specialized units GSU, RDU, and QRT, apart from the military. The area is well-covered and we don’t foresee any problem.
“The KDF operation covers our border with Lamu up to Minjila in Tana Delta even Minjila roadblock is under KDF. We also have a GSU camp near Gamba police station to enhance security of the area,” Mr Olesosion was quoted by the Nation.
Regarding the repeat election, the County Commissioner explained that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure that everything moves on smoothly.
The deployment of the heavy security team comes even as the Opposition Leaders in parts of the Coastal region vowed to boycott and ensure that there is no election in their Counties.
On Tuesday, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Senator Stewart Madzayo, Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu and six Kilifi MPs were detained for more than three hours at the Ngerenya AP post.
The group had gone to the area to distribute relief food before police dispersed locals who sought to be given the rations.
[caption caption="File image of Kilifi NASA Leaders addressing the media"]
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The leaders were detained after they went to the AP post to question why the police disrupted the event.
Kilifi County Police Commander Elijah Ng’etich stated that they could not allow any political gathering at the moment.
The leaders have been on record indicating that no election will take place in the County until their reforms are implemented by IEBC.
