Security personnel in the Coast region have promised that they are ready to discharge their duties during the upcoming general elections to ensure a peaceful atmosphere in the region.
The officers have asked voters not to be scared or run away to their upcountry homes for fear that their right to vote would be compromised.
According to the Regional Police Commander Titus Karuri, anyone who would incite people to cause violence would be treated as a criminal thus face the law.
Addressing the media in Mombasa after a meeting on election preparedness with other agencies Ronald Mwiwawi Deputy County Commissioner Mombasa County said that they would put everything on watch to ensure smooth running of the process.
“We want to give a warning to politicians who incite locals and abuse their opponents, let our people make their wise decisions without any interruption,” said Mwiwawi.
He added that the voting day is a normal day just like any other day urging locals not to panic and raise alarm where it is not needed.
“Let people travel abroad because they are going to vote and not because they are running away from predicted violence and speculations,” added Mwiwawi.
Karuri noted that the maintenance of peace in the region is a collective responsibility of every citizen and it should not be left only for the police.
“We will deliver our duties as police officers but we urge you to be ambassadors of peace, let police to also deliver their duties without interruption,” he said.
Hussein Adan from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Coast region said that they have dispatched their teams to all hotspots in the country to watch over police as they discharge their mandate of maintaining peace and order.
Adan said they have a toll free number “1559” to call IPOA if there is any problem with the security officers or if an officer has been harassed at work.
“We are calling upon all the security officers that have been mandated to do police duties during elections that we will be watching them throughout the exercise,” said Adan.
By Chari Suche
