- Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said the decision was informed by election cycle precedence and intelligence briefs.
- A National Security Council ordered the beefing up of security in the areas.
Additional security has been sent to parts of Eldoret and in Molo and Kuresoi ahead of next week's election.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said the decision was informed by election cycle precedence and intelligence briefs.
The National Security Council ordered beefing up of security in the areas.
Matiang’i made the revelations after a meeting with Rift Valley regional security committee at Mary Mount S School, Molo.
The areas have in the past been centres of attacks before the polls to scare voters.
This led to mass exodus hence voter apathy.
He said security officers had been directed to record/document utterances and activities by politicians and others to help with prosecution of culprits who make reckless and inciting remarks.
He revealed eight suspects linked to leaflets circulating in parts of Rift Valley threatening certain communities to vote for some leaders or risk eviction had been arrested.
“Preliminary investigations reveal none is a state official as alleged. They are being interrogated for more,” he said.
He said chiefs are neither being misused nor are they being coerced to campaign or support Azimio.
“There’s nothing new or untoward about CS or PS Interior holding meetings with chiefs and NGAOs (Provincial Administration). This is normal as Health or Education CSs meeting doctors/nurses and teachers respectively.”
The CS said allegations against President Uhuru Kenyatta of allegedly threatening harm to the Deputy President William Ruto and some leaders are untrue and alarmist.
“Leaders should refrain from incendiary remarks that incite ethnic tensions and hostilities,” he said.
Matiangi said multi- agency command centre has been formed to ensure the turn around time should be as little as minutes.
He said the security personnel are under instructions to guarantee Kenyans their safety as they go out to cast their votes and that all and sundry go about their activities without fear of crime or harm.
Inspector General of police Hilary Mutyambai said they have back up teams to respond to any form of threats.
“Formed police units under the National Police Service have also been deployed across the country to offer tactical support to general duty officers before, during and after the general election,” he said.
According to the IG, the police will also deploy five air sets in strategic locations to provide logistical air support when and where required throughout the elections period.
He said the government has resourced the service adequately, especially with additional vehicles and operational equipment, to ensure seamless and continuous operations during and after the polls.
Areas deemed to be flash points for violence have been mapped and police will be ready to avert a repeat of 2007-08 post-poll chaos.
After the presidential result of the 2007 general election was disputed, violence erupted, leading to the death of more than 1,000 people. Many others were displaced.
An inquiry into the post-election violence pointed to the police as being ill-prepared, partisan and heavy-handed in trying to quell the chaos.
-Edited by SKanyara