MOMBASA,Kenya, Oct, 20 – The police reforms working group – Kenya, which comprises of Human Rights Organisations, Legal Entities, social Justice Centers, Women Organisations, Security Sector Reforms Associations among others has expressed concern over the country’s state of security ahead of the 2022 elections.
In a statement, the group says that, “the bleak and dire security situation in the country requires urgent action to inspire public confidence in security and elections management,”
They said that a worrying trend of cases of extra judicial killings have been increasing day in day out as well as enforced disappearances with several cases being reported nationwide.
“The elections management and outcomes in Kenya continue to pose security and safety challenges which the country needs to address in order to achieve free,fair,transparent and peaceful elections,” read a section of the statement.
The justice system has been faulted for having inadequate linkages and accountability mechanisms with respect to security and electoral justice.
“Public order management remains a key challenge so far which if not well managed could lead to serious disharmony in the upcoming general elections,”
Further emphasis was meanwhile put to ensure that issues of sexual gender based violence (SGBV) are dealt with in order to protect the vulnerable in the community.
The reforms working group is now recommending that the most be deliberate efforts by Kenyans to encourage partnership and collaboration among elections security agencies and stakeholders.
Police must uphold and respect the rule of law and human rights including the right to picket and assemble as articulated in the constitution.
The Elections Security Arrangement Program to be opened up to broader stakeholder participation to include civil society.
Lobby groups are further calling on ESAP to ensure there is a centralised,non-threatening, non-divisive , timely and unambiguous communication in relation to elections.
Coordinated multi-agency approaches within a structured partnership and collaboration framework to enhance transparency and accountability in elections management.
Depoliticisation of elections management organs including shielding of IEBC and NPS from the influence of the three arms of government.
The electoral body to ensure that there is fairness and impartiality immediately,before, during and after the elections.
Calls for the inspector general of police to immediately gazette and operationalise guidelines on election management and use of force and firearms.
Kenya’s security agencies have started planning for the 2022 General elections, amidst growing tension among different political fronts.
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 in June 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.
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