At least eight suspects are in police custody in connection with the hate leaflets that have recently been circulated in parts of the Rift Valley region.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i has said the suspects who are set to be arraigned in court were arrested through a multi-agency operation even as police intensified the hunt for more of their accomplices.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 2 2022 in Molo Nakuru County, Matiang’i said the investigations are being extended to get the masterminds of the leaflets whose content warns members of certain communities of retributions if they fail to elect particular leaders.
“Police have got eight suspects in custody in connection with the circulation of those leaflets, and investigations continue. We have teams on the ground that have been working here for a long time, and we are collecting more intelligence in real-time,” Matiang’i stated.
The leaflets are meant to spread fear and coerce voters into voting for some leaders as an ‘insurance’ against ethnic-laced violence in an area with a history of election-related bloody clashes.
Matiang'i insist hate leaflets not from State
The CS dismissed claims that the government had a hand in the leaflets saying none of the suspects arrested so far worked for the State.
He also allayed fears of violence around the election period saying more resources including air and ground surveillance have been allocated to traditional and emerging hotspots such as Eldoret and its environs, Molo and Kuresoi.
Matiang’i said in line with the National Security Council recommendation and intelligence briefs, the government has increased the number of police officers and other resources deployed to secure the elections across the country.
“You're going to see increased deployment and patrol of our GSU teams here just to be ready for the elections. They are not here for any particular aggression; they're here to assure and demonstrate to wananchi that we are ready to rise up to any challenge that may come up,” he added.
With 14 counties and several security flashpoints, the Rift Valley is the most expansive region with unique policing challenges linked to the election season.
The CS further announced that a multi-agency command centre has been established in Nakuru to coordinate harmonized responses to arising issues linked to next week’s poll.
On Sunday, the Interior Permanent Secretary Karanja Kibicho gave a stern warning to the people involved saying elections cannot be won by instilling fear in citizens to vote for particular candidates.
