BY EDDY NYADWA Kenya is gearing up for general elections in August 9th and as the day draws closer, security risks also emerge. Drawing from previous elections, political violence and outright criminal activities have been witnessed during polls. However, the government is this time devoted to ensure peace prevails.
Comparing the security situation in the country for the past six months and the subsequent days towards the election day, Kenyans feel that the past six months were safer and the situation will deteriorate days ahead of elections.
A recent report by National Cohesion and Integration Commission, NCIC reveal that six counties are at high risk of violence. These are; Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kericho and Uasin Gishu. According to the report titled “A violence Free 2022”, six main factors contribute to violence in election; Lack of trust, Sub –culture of violence, Divisive and Selfish Politics, Ethnic Polarization, Structural Inequalities and Poor Response to Conflict.
The most common security concern is petty theft. Robbery with violence, shops break in and vandalism are also key concerns. In the rural Kenya, of critical concern is theft of crops and livestock . This is exacerbated by the high cost of living.
The political tensions that arise during an election offer organized crime groups an appealing opportunity – at a time when the security agency’s ability to differentiate between politically motivated violence and criminally motivated violence can be extremely difficult.
Paradoxically, a group committing politically motivated offences may try to have their actions interpreted as purely criminal, whereas criminally motivated groups may wish to obscure their actions behind a political façade.
