Kenyan companies are going out of their way to actually prepare their staff for the unexpected during the August 8 elections, even as they invest heavily in campaigns for credible and peaceful polls.More than 10 big corporations had by the end of last week taken their employees through safety and emergency response drills ahead of the hotly contested elections.The preparations, which signal corporate Kenya’s discomfort with the build-up of tension around the polls, have seen some companies map out the election violence hotspots complete with what employees working in those areas should do in the event of a breakdown in law and order. Some of the companies have developed extensive strategies to secure their assets – including buildings and company motor vehicles as part of risk mitigation.Security agencies have identified parts of the Rift Valley, Coast, Nairobi, Kiambu and Kisumu as potential hotspots.Habil Olaka, the chief executive of the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), said the lobby had formed a committee that is drafting a response and escalation manual to be shared with its members ahead of election day.The manual will detail what bank employees should do during and after the election, including tips on how to keep their families safe and keep communication lines open with employers.Some telecoms operators last week initiated security training sessions, advising staff to, among other things, stock up on supplies that can last a month.The African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) says the lower uptake of political violence covers this year is because “people have felt that this election is much safer than 2007.”

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