Matiang'i Reveals Plans to Form Special Police Squad Ahead of Polls

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i addresses NGAOs from Nyamira County on Friday, January 14, 2022.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i addresses NGAOs from Nyamira County on Friday, January 14, 2022.
Courtesy Ministry of Interior

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i has revealed plans to form a special police force ahead of the August 9 polls.

While speaking at a clergy conference for the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) in Nairobi on Tuesday, April 19, the CS revealed that there were plans to gazette officers that will complement the work of the National Police Service (NPS) during the polls.

The CS added that the officers would be trained before their deployment during the General Election.

Inspector Sharon Ijeloit Oramisi Commanding final parade alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta at Kiganjo college on Wednesday January 19, 2022
Inspector Sharon Ijeloit Oramisi Commanding final parade alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta at Kiganjo college on Wednesday January 19, 2022
NPS

"Plans are underway to gazette special police officers who will complement the NPS in the provision of security. The special police officers will also be trained alongside other cadres of Police Officers," he stated.

Additionally, he added that there was a multi-sectoral security command center to monitor security during the polls.

"The NPS remains independent at the direction of the Inspector General. The NPS has reported a number of actions within the Multi-sectoral Agency framework.

"A National Multi-Agency Command Centre on election security is in place as a liaison with field teams on peace and security situation, and preparation of regular peace and security briefs is taking place," the CS stated.

He assured that the government would ensure that there is adequate security for Kenyans even as he maintained that there would be no interference with the independence of the NPS and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Matiang'i refuted claims that there were plans to switch off the internet as claimed by a section of politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto insisting that the constitution would be respected during the process.

While addressing the media on April 9, Garissa Township legislator, Aden Duale claimed that the ongoing SIM registration was aimed at interfering with the internet during the Elections.

“You have not been taken to CA as an ordinary Director-General, we know what you want to do on the polling day as far as the internet is concerned, we know the data you are collecting and we know you are working for the deep state, and we will flag you," Duale claimed.

"Although, we have observed an exponential rise of incitement on social media, let me state it here that as a democratic state which guarantees the freedom and access to information under Chapter Four of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 the Government of Kenya will not shut down the Internet before and after the General Election," Matiang'i assured.

{"preview_thumbnail":"/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/BJIUpCb5LVo.jpg?itok=1we8UJke","video_url":"","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}