Garissa secure and ready for election, say officials

Garissa IEBC returning officer Abdulwahab Hussein has urged residents to turn up in numbers and exercise their constitutional right on Tuesday.

He said preparations are complete and all election materials have been safely ferried to their destinations across the county.

Hussein spoke on Monday after a county security and intelligence meeting that was chaired by the county commissioner Boaz Cherutich. 

“We are prepared together with the county and intelligence committee to support this exercise by all means possible, be it by road or air. We are sorted in terms of logistical preparedness,” he said.

Asked if plans were there to ferry election materials to terror prone areas especially at the border, Hussein said they have a standby chopper that will come in handy when needed.

“For places that are not accessible or those that will for one reason or another require urgent intervention, we are going to use air transport. We are not taking any chances with this very important national exercise,” he said.

The drought has however forced majority of herders to move far from their polling stations in search of water and pasture for their animals.

The official however urged pastoralists to spare a day and visit their respective polling stations for the voting exercise.

“I know there is drought but we want our people to come out because this is a very important national exercise, which we have been waiting for for the last five years.

"We have an opportunity to exercise our democratic right by choosing leaders of our choice,” he said.

Hussein said residents have the chance to make a difference in the county and the country at large. 

“The decisions that are going to be made if many of us are not going to participate may not be very good decisions. If many people come out and exercise their right to vote, then we are likely to get good leaders,” he said.

The official however discouraged candidates who will win from engaging in excessive celebrations that might provoke the other candidates and their supporters, leading to violence.

"I appeal to both winners and losers to remain civil and accept the outcome. For the winners, please be civil with your celebrations as the losers live to fight another day," he said.

Cherutich said security along the Somalia border has been enhanced and urged the electorates to come out and exercise their democratic right without fear.

He said a multi-agency command centre has been set up to monitor any challenges that might occur at the polling centres.

The commissioner said the centre will help officials in swiftly responding to any emergency and solve it as quickly as possible.

Cherutich who was flanked by the county security team, elders and clerics warned anyone with the intention of disrupting the exercise saying stern action will be taken against them.

“We want to issue a warning to the few who might be planning to disrupt the election, that they will be firmly dealt with in accordance with the law.

"Our security officers are under firm instructions to ensure that the exercise goes on smoothly across the county,” he said.

Elder Dubat Amey urged residents to remain calm after voting and wait for the results to be announced.

"Let us all remain calm and leave the job of counting and announcing results to the the IEBC. There will always be winners and losers.

"We don't want people engaging in violence because we have a county and country to keep after the polls," he said.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)