The Interior Ministry, through the national government administration is assessing peace situation and laying down strategies to ensure lasting peace and security in Nyanza during and after the General Election, Nyanza Regional Commissioner, Magu Mutindika has said.
As part of the exercise, Mutindika said, top national government administrators are meeting with chiefs and their assistants to chart the way forward.
Speaking at the Siaya County headquarters after meeting local chiefs, Mutindika, who was flanked by Siaya County Commissioner, Jim Njoka said they were out to give the local community confidence that all is well and the government will do all within its means to ensure their security before, during and after the August general election.
“In the past, there has been a tendency of fear, where people do not want to go out and vote,” said the regional commissioner.
He said that this time round, national government administration officers from the grassroots will be in the fore front assuring the public of their security and the need to turn up in large numbers to exercise their democratic right of choosing a leader they want.
Mutindika said that the programme, which kicked off in Siaya, will cover the entire Nyanza region that comprises Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Kisii and Nyamira counties.
The regional commissioner said that during the security and peace engagement meetings, the officials will also take time to assess the status of implementation of national government development projects and programmes in the region.
He called on political leaders and the public at large to maintain peace, adding that aspirants should conduct their campaigns peacefully while accommodating each other.
Addressing the meeting, Njoka said that security officers were in hot pursuit of criminal elements behind a series of abductions and murders in the county.
The CC appealed to the local wananchi to help by volunteering information to the police and other security officials, adding that it was through cooperation that criminals will be brought to book.
By Philip Onyango
