Wafula Chebukati, IEBC chairperson says that August 8 campaigns will officially kick off on May 8. Chebukati also says that all measures have been put in place to ensure the August exercise is above board.
Among the key initiatives, he says, will be deployment of 47 electoral managers, who will work closely with county security bosses unlike in 2013 when the Commission only had 16 managers.
“We are fully committed to ensure we deliver a free, fair and a transparent election,” Chebukati said.
Chebukati also notes that in the past, the commission only interacted with security officers a day before the polls, day but now, they will be trained together with his electoral team, in an exercise set to start next week.
He was speaking on Tuesday during the launch of the Elections Security Arrangement project that will see 180,000 security and electoral officers trained ahead of the August polls.
The project, he said, will enhance the cooperation between the police, public , IEBC and other independent commissions, “in promoting and ensuring security of the campaigns period through best practices in negotiated public order management.”
Through the training, he said, they hope to enhance their investigating skills and prosecution of electoral offenders in the country and, “promoting joint election risk assessment and response to these risk factors.”
It will also promote public participation in promoting security during the electioneering period.
During the launch of the security project, key institutions like the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, the National Police Service were represented.
Also present was the National Cohesion Integration Commission Chairperson, Francis ole Kaparo, who asked the police to act decisively against perpetrators of violence.
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