Garissa County commissioner Boaz Cherutich has issued a stern warning to political aspirants who are hiring goons to disrupt political gatherings of their opponents, pull down campaign posters and banners that stern action will be taken against them.
Cherutich said that police have arrested four people in connection with the stoning of former national majority leader Aden Duale convoy in Bulla Iftin by youths and will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are over.
The county commissioner said that the arrest will serve as warning to all those aspirants and their supporters who are hell bent to disrupt their opponents’ campaign gatherings that the law will take its course.
Addressing wananchi who turned up for this year’s Madaraka celebrations held at the Garissa school playgrounds, Cherutich said that security agencies in the area have been put on high alert to ensure that law and order prevail during and after the August 9 polls.
“As the county security team, we are working closely with the relevant bodies among them NCIC, IEBC and relevant security teams to ensure that the elections campaigns are peaceful,” Cherutich said.
“I want to warn aspirants who are using the youth to pull down posters and banners of their aspirants that they will face the full force of the law irrespective of their position in the society,” he added.
Cherutich said that committees comprising of security agencies, clerics, IEBC and other relevant bodies that were formed early this year will be meeting regularly to map out hotspots to enable security officers to plan for any eventualities.
Leaders who spoke during the celebrations urged Garissa residents to uphold peace during the election campaigns.
SUPKEM national organizing secretary Abdullahi Salat asked the aspirants to stop using money to entice the youth into causing violence to their ‘advantage’.
“Leaders are God chosen and no amount of money that you will dish out to the youth to disrupt rallies of your opponents will propel you to power. I want to urge our youth to scrutinize the leaders they are electing to serve them for the next five years,” Salat said.
Garissa county assembly nominated MCA Katra Iman called on Muslim and Christian clerics to pray for the county and the country at large as we prepare for the August 9 polls.
Katra said that businesses of women suffer most whenever elections violence erupts.
By Jacob Songok
