Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has assured Kenyans that security agencies are fully prepared to guarantee peace during tomorrow’s by-elections across the country. Speaking in Kasipul, where he toured the area alongside the Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service and regional security teams, CS Murkomen said the government will protect voters and polling stations to uphold democratic rights.
“We want to restore the confidence of the people of Kenya in the electoral process by ensuring that these by-elections are peaceful and are being managed by the National Police Service, and not by goons,” he said.
Murkomen cautioned all political parties and candidates against providing their own security, stating that the Kenyan constitution does not assign any individual the responsibility to protect votes.
The CS condemned the growing trend of aspirants recruiting goons to disrupt elections, warning that anyone planning to ferry gangs to polling stations or tallying centers will face the full force of the law. Vehicle owners and transporters aiding such activities will also be arrested. He referenced previous protests where individuals had ferried goons to burn police stations and homes, noting that arrests and terror charges were subsequently filed.
Murkomen also assured women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly that they should not fear going to vote and should avoid lingering around polling or tallying stations after casting their vote, as this could lead to arrest. He urged voters to preserve peace, respect the outcomes, and trust the security of results under the current election technology.
When asked about claims of government interference in some upcoming by-elections, Murkomen dismissed the allegations as baseless.
“The government only takes preventive measures. People were mobilising young Kenyans to cause violence in previous polls, and we are happy that someone is blaming the government from the comfort of their seat while safe, and no deaths or injuries have been recorded,” he said.
He added that any information received by the National Police Service will be acted upon immediately to prevent violence. Murkomen emphasized that critics of the government do not appreciate the peace in the country and are quick to assign blame when crises arise. “Our role is to maintain law and order, not to engage in electoral malpractice. When criminals complain that the government is intimidating them, that is our success,” he said.
Murkomen urged citizens to follow police instructions to ease operations and prevent injuries or deaths, clarifying that the heavy police presence is meant to protect voters and that no individual is being targeted. “In areas where the government fears planned violence, we will deploy as many officers as possible. Those police will not be there to intimidate any voter, but rather to ensure that every voter can enjoy their right to vote,” he said. He also called on Kenyans to report any officer interfering with voting and concluded by wishing success to all candidates and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which is managing the polls under a new team.
