In order to provide security for the General Election on August 9, the National Police Service will send out at least 150,000 police officers. The Kenya Prisons Service, National Youth Service, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Kenya Forest Service will support officers recruited from various unit formations of the NPS. Last Friday Hilary Mutyambai, the inspector general of police said that the police had undergone training and sensitization prior to the elections.
The officers who will work under the supervision of roughly 1,115 commanders have undergone training in sexual and gender-based violence, public order management, reporting and investigating election offenses, and police accountability. According to the police commander, training and security measures have been made over the past five years in an effort to rectify the errors seen in the 2017 elections.
Mutyambai said he established the National Police Service Election Security Secretariat with the sole purpose of coordinating all actions related to election preparation in order to ensure appropriate coordination of all activities surrounding election security.
The DCI has also increased its capacity and capabilities and sent out more officers to look into any cases of electoral fraud. Before the elections, the police will also receive more cars and tools to help them deal with threats.
Emergency operators from all around the nation now provide services to the police department. During the election season, five police headquarters from the Air Wing Unit will be on standby to assist in quick reactions to incidents.
“To ensure seamless and continuous operations, the Government has resourced the Service adequately. This is by leasing additional vehicles and operational equipment to ensure officers are well resourced and in a high state of readiness to handle all forms of threats that may arise before, during, and after the General Elections,” Mutyambai said.
The Inspector general of police urged Kenyans to cooperate with the security forces and maintain peace before, during, and after the election campaigning period for the benefit of the nation.
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