Garissa County Commissioner (CC) Boaz Cherutich has urged aspirants that will be cleared to vie for various elective seats to maintain peace during the campaign period that started officially yesterday.
Cherutich said that although there have been no major incidents in political rallies that have compromised security, there was a need for the aspirants to prevail upon their supporters to keep peace.
The CC was speaking during the installation of chiefs Abdirahman Shafe and Musa Abdi Tawane of the newly created Bulla Mzuri and Tawakal locations respectively in the troubled Bulla Mzuri area that has been under curfew for the past two months.
He said that the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) together with the DCI and other relevant security agencies will closely monitor campaign rallies to curb hate speeches and any form of incitement that would likely compromise security.
“We have officers from NCIC and DCI who have been trained and will have recordings in campaign rallies for aspirants who are likely to incite the residents into violence. We shall take action if necessary. But so far we are confident that peace will prevail,” Cherutich said.
Following requests by leaders among them Garissa Senator Abdul Haji and Garissa Township MP Aden Duale for a police station to be constructed in Bulla Mzuri, Cherutich said he will personally take up the matter with interior CS Dr. Fred Matiangí.
In March this year, the government declared a dusk to dawn curfew in the area after one resident was shot dead by unknown assailants that led to several houses being razed.
The government further suspended all land dealings including sale or construction until peace was restored.
“The curfew and other government directives are still on until we are sure you will live peacefully. As soon as we get assurance, we will recommend the lifting of the 6pm to 6am curfew,” Cherutich said.
“The government is also working towards creating more administrative units so that we can cover everywhere and maintain peace and order,” he added.
Area leaders present, Senator Abdul Haji, Garissa Township MP Aden Duale and former governor Nathif Jama pledged to support the government’s peace efforts.
“We are going to work with you county commissioner together with Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and PS Karanja Kibicho. We are also going to allocate money in Parliament for this Ministry specifically to activate locations and sub locations across the country,” Duale said.
“These two locations we are launching today is part of many development projects we are going to do. We will push to have more locations in Madina West, Garissa Ndogo, Dekaburey, Bula Rahma and Bura noor,” Senator Haji said.
By Erick Kyalo
