Bar owners in Nyandarua County have been directed to fully close their businesses early on Monday August 8, and remain closed the whole of Tuesday.
According to Nyandarua County Commissioner Amos Mariba, this is meant to give people ample time to fully participate in the next week’s general election.
Mariba made the appeal in his Ol Kalou town office after meeting top security officers to review security preparedness during and after the elections.
“I urge bar owners in the County to close their business early on the eve of the election and remain closed on the voting day,” he said.
“This will ensure patrons get home early and are able to wake up sober on the voting day. It will also ensure that our region remains calm during the electioneering period,” Mariba said.
He also applauded candidates in the County for maintaining peace during their campaign period.
“Nyandarua has remained peaceful throughout the campaign period and we (security agencies) don’t expect anything bad by the close of campaign period on Saturday,” Mariba said.
The CC said enough security officers drawn from police, Critical Infrastructure Police Unit (CIPU), KWS, Prisons, NYS and Kenya Forest Service would be deployed to keep peace on polls day and after until results will be announced.
Mariba said in addition to the officers who will be manning polling centres, there will be another contingent of officers that will be patrolling to ensure homes are not raided by thieves as owners go to vote.
On his side, the County Police Commander Omar Orero said each polling centre would have enough officers to ensure calm throughout.
“Each stream in the polling centre will have two security officers to maintain peace. Generally, security has improved in the County, particularly theft of livestock that had been rampant in the past,” Orero said.
He added that currently the main security challenge is manufacture and sale of illicit brews in the County.
He said that at the moment, they are holding another suspect that has been brewing illicit brew in Ngorika location, Nyandarua County.
Last month, a multi-agency team led by Ndaragwa DCC Walter Ngaira raided a homestead and seized a consignment of illicit liquor manufactured and packaged in a homestead.
By Antony Mwangi
