Alarm over poll-related violence ahead of 2017 elections

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has sounded an alarm over nationwide tension and potential poll-related violence as the country nears the 2017 General Election.

Speaking at Chaaria in Imenti Central Sub County where the commission was training women on resolving conflicts, Commissioner Adan Mohammed condemned Monday’s Jamhuri Day chaos in Meru saying that the commission anticipates worse incidents more than what has already been witnessed.

“The commission has mapped the 47 counties and what we have found out is 33 out of the 47 counties are at risk of violence come August 2017”, cautioned Mohammed.

According him, there is no doubt that the gubernatorial and MCAs seats will be the hotly contested positions hence the possibility of having conflict within the counties being very high, with signs already being experienced in Meru County.

“There are over 700,000 small arms in the hands of mainly the pastoral communities in the Nothern part of Kenya and we have all reasons to worry come 2017”, said Mohammed.

While urging all parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully, Mohammed said that the commission has started training CID officers to monitor, record voices, and capture images of politicians inciting people, further cautioning that Kenya is politically zoned and fragmented.

“It is not business as usual. We have police officers already trained and peace monitors in each county and we will have two attending every rally and the recording will be received at the head office, there is no way you can escape”, warned Mohammed

Also present was Commissioner Professor Gitile Naituli who accused elite of fanning corruption and negative tribalism, which he said are dangerous especially when the campaigns enter the final leg.

Naituli urged Kenyans not to be used to propagate violence during the election period, further warning aspirants against inciting Kenyans as they go about their campaigns.

Reporting by Josiah Mugo