Security agencies map out violence spots in Naivasha

Kirera Mwiti and KNA

Security agents in collaboration with National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) have mapped out sections of Naivasha where election related violence may occur during next year’s polls.

Deputy Sub-county commander Jared Okari named the mapped areas, mostly in informal settlements, as  Karagita, Kamere, Kihoto estate, Kabati and Naivasha township area.

Okari said the areas have a high number of youths whom he noted are usually mobilised by politicians during electioneering period to cause chaos.

He however guaranteed that security has been beefed up in the hot spots and   that manned police posts and a patrol base have been erected to monitor any negative activities.

The police boss said that the police are also working closely with the Naivasha prison department to ensure that enough security is marshaled for the upcoming elections.

 “We guarantee enough security in all the 259 polling stations to ensure peaceful 2022 elections,” said Okari.

Okari spoke during a sensitization forum for youths to counter electoral violence in Naivasha.

On her part NCIC Deputy Director for Programmes and Technical Services, Millicent Okatch said NCIC was keenly monitoring social media as it is being used to spew hate speech ahead of next year’s polls.

According to Okatch, the commission was aware of areas most affected by elections in the country.

She noted that they would however conduct fresh exercises across the country in a bid to avert chaos before, during and after the elections.

“Apart from mapping out the sensitive areas that are affected by political violence, we have started to engage the youths so that they are not misused by the politicians,” she said.

 “Our mandate is to investigate politicians spewing out hate speech and handing over the evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions,” she said.

She at the same time identified hate speech on social media as the biggest challenge the commission was currently experiencing.

“All the hate speech has now been directed on social media platforms and we shall be working with other government agencies to stem this,” she said.

On the ongoing consultative meetings, the director noted that they were keen to engage the youths who were on the forefront during political campaigns.

“For years politicians have misused youths in political demonstrations and we want to change this narrative ahead of the coming general elections,” she said.

Naivasha deputy OCPD Jared Marando said that they had already identified the hotspots in the lakeside town that was hardest hit by the 2007 post-election violence.