Photo: Julius Mwelu/IRIN The Kenyan Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo announced on Monday (December 31st) that he and the police force have developed an elaborate security strategy to ensure the March 4th general elections are peaceful.
Kimaiyo said he intends to expand the police force to 90,000 members from its current level of 70,000 to reinforce high-risk areas and assign security details to candidates, Kenya's The Standard reported.
"We have prepared and we will continue to prepare for the management of the elections which will start with campaigns, polling, counting of results and announcement of the winners, post-election, and the swearing-in of the president," he said, adding that he will send a budget to parliament to account for the associated expenses.
Kimaiyo said police are dedicated to avoiding a repeat of the violence after the 2007 elections, which left an estimated 1,200 people dead and more than 300,000 displaced, according to the United Nations.
He also promised a tough police response to violence that has erupted in several Nairobi neighbourhoods. He said he will deploy officers to contain the situation in the affected areas, including Dandora, Mathare and Huruma.
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