MARSABIT, Kenya, Jul, 29 – Security preparations for the forthcoming general elections in Marsabit County where a military operation is active are complete.
The government is also advising the business community in Marsabit town to consider installing CCTV cameras in their premises to help in surveillance.
Eastern Regional Commissioner (RC) Evans Achoki said that the government would be deploying adequate security personnel to help in securing voting materials and to man polling stations during the exercise.
Mr Achoki told the press after chairing the county security committee meeting at the ACK conference hall that the Interior Ministry was ready to assist the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct the poll without any hitches.
The Regional Commissioner who was accompanied by the GSU commandant Douglas Kanja and the regional security team assured wananchi in the county which has been witnessing security challenges that security has been restored not only to make them secure but give them an enabling environment to vote.
Mr Achoki who disclosed that the Operation Rejesha Amani Marsabit which kicked off three months ago has managed to recover an assortment of 320 illegal guns and over 2,500 bullets pointed out that the onslaught targets criminals and those armed with illicit firearms.
He assured political candidates of their security in their campaigns as the election fever entered the home stretch.
On isolated cases of cattle rustling which have continued to be witnessed in the region despite a dusk to dawn curfew and the security operation, the RC said new strategies were being planned to eliminate the problem.
He appealed to the residents to continue supporting the initiative saying that nobody had a reason to remain to hold an illegal firearm now that the government has restored security in the county.
“We have also intensified peace-building efforts for harmonious coexistence among communities in this county and I would urge those still in possession of unlicensed firearms to surrender them to the authorities without delay,” said Mr Achoki.
Concerning town security, the RC asked traders to install cameras in buildings to assist in fighting crime.
He said that CCTVs as an effective tool in identifying lawbreakers and speeding up investigations had been proven hence the need for the local business community to consider taking up the move.
At the same time, the GSU commandant Douglas Kanja expressed satisfaction with the progress so far made in curbing insecurity in Marsabit County adding that new approaches were being worked out to tame livestock theft.
The commandant cautioned that the current security arrangements would be maintained until all illegal firearms in the wrong hands are mopped up and appealed to residents to assist in the recovery of the weapons.
He also expressed confidence that the elections would be conducted in a secure and peaceful environment as measures towards that end have been finalized.
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