Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has announced the deployment of more than 1,000 police officers to provide security during the Ol Kalou by-election scheduled for Thursday, July 16.
Speaking on security preparedness ahead of the poll, Kanja said all the 114 polling stations in the constituency have been adequately covered in line with standard deployment procedures.
“We have over 1,000 police officers deployed to ensure that the by-election is adequately covered,” Kanja said.
He explained that each polling station will have a minimum of two police officers tasked with safeguarding election materials, securing the voting process and ensuring electoral officials carry out their duties without interference.
“Their work shall be to safeguard the voting materials, the voting process itself, while offering adequate security at each and every polling station, ensuring the electoral officials perform their duties well and unhindered,” he said.
The Inspector General added that riot control teams comprising at least 14 officers have also been stationed at every polling centre to provide additional security and respond to any disturbances.
To strengthen the operation further, specialised units have been deployed across the constituency.
“There are specialised teams that have been deployed to give an overall and unbreachable security,” Kanja said.
He said the deployment includes officers from the General Service Unit (GSU), the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, four water cannons and sufficient personnel from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
According to Kanja, DCI officers will focus on intelligence gathering, investigations, arrests and prosecution of individuals involved in electoral malpractices.
“The focus of the DCI deployment is intelligence gathering, investigations, arrests and prosecution of any party or individuals involved in electoral malpractice,” he said.
The heightened security operation comes amid concerns over political violence and electoral offences that have been reported during the campaign period.
Kanja urged voters, candidates and their supporters to maintain peace and comply with electoral laws, assuring residents that security agencies are fully prepared to ensure a free, fair and peaceful by-election.
The Ol Kalau by-election will be held on Thursday, July 16, with voting expected to take place in all 114 polling stations across the constituency.
