[A security officer flags down a car in Garissa town. Security is set to be beefed up as the election date nears.] (ebru.co.ke)Security has been beefed up in Garissa County, with the August elections slightly two months away.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission recently identified the county among the 33 devolved units likely to face violence during the poll.
Speaking to journalists in Garissa town, County Commissioner James Kianda said more security personnel had been deployed to counter acts of lawlessness during campaigns, during and after the election.
“We might have been listed as a hotspot because of the highly contested seats, including governor, MP and MCA positions, but we will ensure we have proper security arrangements before, during and after the polls,” he said.
“Aspirants will be given an opportunity to air their views and explain their agenda without coercion. We assure members of the public attending rallies of their security.”
One of the constituencies where political tension has been rising over the last one year is Garissa Township represented in Parliament by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale who is being challenged by former Parliament Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim.
Political temperatures have been rising in the cosmopolitan constituency from the time reports emerged in late 2016 that some youth had been instructed by a local politician to evict non-Somalis in Garissa town.
Maalim specifically accused Duale of giving instructions to the youth in a video that widely circulated on social media. Duale refuted the claims terming Maalim’s accusations “cheap propaganda” aimed at seeking sympathy from voters.
Maalim in April launched a door-to-door campaign as he seeks to oust Duale, the National Super Alliance’s (NASA) principal critique from North Eastern region.
The NCIC is closely monitoring various regions to avert violence. It recently launched peace initiatives and gave out voice recorders to aid law enforcement agencies track hatemongers.