Tana River sub-county Deputy County Commissioner Evans Wendott has ordered chiefs from Galole and Wenje divisions to sensitize the public on peace as hotspot locations are mapped out.
The meeting also mapped out locations in the sub-county where conflicts may occur before, during, and after the election for the government to take necessary actions.
Zubaki’s location in Hola town was singled out as one of the hotspot areas likely to be affected if chaos erupts since it is cosmopolitan and the county and Galole constituency tallying centers will be located.
Speaking at a peace conference that brought together state and non-sectors DCC Wendott said the meeting aims to ensure peace prevails before and after the forthcoming general election.
He revealed that they have devised mechanisms to avert chaos, “strategies are in place we need to work together to have a peaceful election.’’
Geoffrey Mwachofi, Assistant County Commissioner, Wenje Division said it’s the citizenry’s responsibility to report hate mongers during the ongoing campaign period for the law to take its course.
He added that Tana River has had cases of ethnic conflicts which occur before or after elections. “As a government, we don’t want a repeat of violence during and after the election. Violence affects our stability and economy as a country,’’ said the ACC.
Chairman of Peace Committee Pastor John Machafu advised the stakeholders to act as referees by acting promptly by volunteering information to security personnel.
“We must tolerate each other without looking at our tribes or religion. We must be firm as peacemakers, if there’s information on breaching of peace let’s relay the information to our security officers,’’ said Pastor Machafu.
Two incidents of violence in Tana River Sub-County were captured by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) report on the 2017 election. KNCHR documented two cases of violence that occurred in Hola boys; on the Tana River during the counting of votes, three people lost their lives.
“On 9th August 2017, one adult male civilian was stabbed and died following an invasion by five armed men who disrupted the counting of votes at Hola Secondary School which was the Constituency tallying center in Galole Constituency, Tana-River County. The attackers invaded the tallying center following the difference in votes counted for the two gubernatorial aspirants.’’
“On 9th August 2017, five armed men invaded Hola Secondary School, which was a tallying center in Galole Constituency. Two men out of the five were killed by police officers while the others managed to escape. The attack disrupted the counting of votes as the IEBC officials fled the scene.’’ Read the report named mirage at dusk human rights account of the 2017 general election
