NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 16- Kenya’s security agencies have started planning for the 2022 General elections, amidst growing tension among different political fronts and a major fallout between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
Already, a multi-agency security team has been set up to plan ahead and ensure the country does not slip into the dark days of 2007-2008 post-election violence that saw more than 1,000 people killed and 600,000 others internally displaced.
The plan will include an increased administrators’ involvement in undertaking civic education with a mandate of offering ‘political education’, taming hate-mongers and heightened supervision of chiefs and their assistants.
Already, boda-boda operators have been identified as a weak link to peace due to their susceptibility to be used to cause violence by politicians.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i on Wednesday revealed that a multi-agency team will develop Standard Operating Procedures on Peace and Security Management of the 2022 General Elections to guide us through the elections period.
“This calls on all of us to work together to ensure that this does not come to pass. We must say “Never Again” to the prophets of doom who may want to plunge this country into chaos,” the Interior Cabinet Secretary said during a meeting with administrators.
He cautioned that there were similar violence indicators as it were in 2007, and more so during the by-elections that has left people killed and others injured.
“You are all aware that in Kenya, every time we approach the electioneering season, there is a high-level ethnic tension, hate speech, voter bribery, and intimidation that often culminates into electoral violence. A closer review of the political dynamics in the country, mirrored by the previous by-elections, points to possible conflict and electoral violence in 2022,” he said.
The police have specifically been on the spot for allegedly being misused by government to cause tension or violence during the by-elections.
The DP Ruto led faction has even accused CS Matiang’i of using police to disrupt their meetings while turning a blind eye on those held by politicians aligned to the government and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
But how does he plan to secure the country amidst the political polarisation?
He said it will begin by redefining the role of the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) in political competition.
“The electoral fever has already gripped the country. As you can all witness, there is a lot of commotion across the country with little motion. This is a time that we need to redefine our roles as National Government Administrators. As leaders, we are called upon, more than ever before, to provide the much-required leadership,” he said.
The government is also planning to undertake massive civic education ahead of the electioneering period.
Matiang’i said this is meant to increase the level of consciousness among members of the public, saying “our society is otherwise characterized by patrimonial and paternalist political cultures.”
“This will enhance political participation in national affairs. This political education is aimed at not only bringing about the change of attitudes towards candidates but also enhancing capacity of our people to interpret Kenya’s objective reality. The Civic education that you are expected to conduct will go a long in assisting the Elections Management Body in its mandate of delivering a free, fair, efficient and cost-effective election,” he said.
He directed the administrators to start holding public engagements across the country, “that offers perfect platforms for the exchange and dissemination of electoral information.”
He said the public engagements will be reformatted to give the public the first opportunity to air their views on a wide range of issues before the officers can make responses.
“We must start by attentively listening to what Kenyans are saying before responding,” he said.
“This will give them the eagerness to also listen to us. The trust and confidence to believe our word. It must be a meaningful two-way engagement. Revert to the culture of generating reports on proceedings of Barazas that capture issues raised, response given and escalation of issues that require policy direction.”
On hate speech and political incitement, he said “there is need for enhanced multi-agency approach to mitigate against this vice. Regional Coordinator’s and County Commissioners will be required to collaborate with other agencies in monitoring and management of hate speech. Regulation of political activities should be enhanced to minimize hate speech and propaganda.”
He cautioned the administrators that they shall be held accountable for their own actions.
In 2007, security agencies were accused of playing an active role in the spate of violence following the aftermath of the disputed presidential election outcome.
The then Commissioner of Police Mohammed Hussein was among 6 Kenyans facing crimes against humanity charges at the Hague based, International Criminal Court (ICC). The President and his Deputy were also in the list.
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