Government mapping violence hotspots ahead of 2022 polls

The government is mapping election violence hotspots in the country ahead of next year's General  Election in order to avert possible chaos. 

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has revealed that the government has put in place infrastructure that collects information and data in real time to ensure peaceful election. 

According to Dr Matiang’i, the government is collecting a huge amount of data on a day-to-day basis across the country to help in creating an active early warning system.

The Cabinet Secretary spoke on Thursday night during an interview with journalists at Kamel Park Hotel in Kisii. 

"We are working together within a multi-agency framework and involving all the actors in the security sector and we will be able detect the troubled spots in any part of the country," Dr Matiang’i said. 

Matiang'i made the remarks just days after a meeting of the National Multi-Agency Forum on Election Preparedness.

While pointing out the role of the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the CS said other members of the technical committee on election preparedness play a supportive role. 

"We are not the primary actors. The primary actors are the IEBC. They tell us how and when they need our support," Matiang’i said.

Deputy President William Ruto and his United Democratic Alliance party have been raising concerns over the membership of the election preparedness team. 

The DP's allies have particularly taken issue with presence of Chief Justice Martha Koome in the committee, over fears that she could jeopardise next year's polls.

The electoral body has since pulled out of the committee, saying it was an independent agency. 

Meanwhile, Matiang'i has called on Kenyans to be careful on the roads during the festive season so as not to endanger the lives of others.

Dr Matiang’i has also appealed to members of the public to note and report unusual activities around them during the festive season.

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