Go Vote Without Fear, I am Still In Charge- Uhuru To Kenyans

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 7- President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured the country of peaceful August 9 polls, saying all measures have been put in place to address any emerging security issues.

The President said already security agencies have mapped out hotspots areas across the country and more deployments made.

He spoke on Sunday evening during a joint interview involving leading vernacular media houses in the Mount Kenya region, his political backyard.

“No one should get worried. I am still the President,” the Head of State said.

He said until a new President is sworn into office, he will exercise his mandate which includes ensuring the security of all Kenyans during and after elections.

He cautioned politicians against inciting Kenyans, saying those aggrieved should seek redress in courts.

The President also urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to conduct the August 9 polls with credibility, to ensure are parties involved are satisfied with the outcome.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi has since revealed that more police officers have been deployed in Mombasa, Eldoret, Molo, and Kuresoi areas.

He has however been criticized by a section of Kenya Kwanza leaders who say the mapped-out parts of Rift Valley have no issues, saying the government’s move is meant to suppress the voters turn out, claims he has refuted.

The US Embassy in Kenya recently issued what it termed as a routine security alert to its citizens, urging them not to travel to Kisumu during this electioneering period.

“Alerts of this nature to American citizens are common ahead of elections throughout the world, and the United States has no information to suggest the security situation in Kisumu, or in any other parts of Kenya, have been adversely affected by election preparations,” reads a section of the security alert.

The Embassy clarified that Kisumu hosts a significant number of U.S. Embassy personnel and is a frequent travel destination for American citizens.

“The U.S. Department of State has no greater responsibility than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas and routinely issues Security Alerts surrounding elections, health conditions, and extreme weather, ensuring U.S. citizens have information that helps inform travel plans,” the US Embassy said.

The government has however said it does not expect Kisumu to have any security-related issues.

In the past, the County just like Nairobi and Mombasa have witnessed a significant amount of electoral related violence, that has led to loss of lives and destruction of property.

The President committed to a peaceful transition period.

In the 2007-2008 Post Election Violence, more than 1,000 people were killed across the country. More than 600,000 others were internally displaced after a disputed election.