Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) plans to train up to 150,000 police offices on election laws and security before the country’s August polls.
An American NGO, the Democratic Institute, in a report recently stated that pre- and post-election violence is a major concern for Kenyans, hence IEBC is mapping out hotspots in all the country’s 47 counties, the Star reports.
This year’s election will take place nearly a decade after disputed election results fuelled violence that left more than 1,000 dead and 500,000 displaced.
Speaking to the Star, the IEBC said they are using the early warning signals as mitigation strategy.
“We intend to intensify collaboration on the use of early warning and response mechanisms with other stakeholders as prevention and mitigation strategy on electoral violence,” IEBC communication manager Andrew Limo told the Star.
Kenya has been hit by a wave of unrest in several counties; Kisumu, Homa Bay, Kirinyaga and Kiambu prior and during political party primaries.
“Since July last year, the IEBC has held several workshops with security players, including the police, Directorate of Public Prosecution, the Judiciary and civil society,” Limo said
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati warned that they would impose sanctions on parties and aspirants, reminding them that they are bound by the Electoral Code of Conduct.
