Kenya offers 24-hr security at local centres for Sudan vote

Kenyan Police officers will be deployed on a 24-hour basis at the eight referendum centres in Kenya as Southern Sudan goes to the ballot from Sunday.

The Referendum Commission Representative in Kenya, Mr Philip Deng said on Friday that the Kenyan government has pledged to offer security for the seven days of voting.

Voting will be done in eight referendum centres. There are two centres in Nairobi and one each in Eldoret, Kitale and Nakuru. The Southern Sudanese will also be able to cast their vote in two refugee camps – Kakuma in Turkana and Dadaab in Wajir.

“The plans for the Referendum are fully set and everything is ready; the only thing left is for registered South Sudanese to come out and vote on the January 9,” said Mr Deng.

Mr Deng expressed confidence that the referendum result will be accepted, given the successful voter registration.

He added that the Commission has managed to register more people in Kenya then in any other Diaspora countries such as Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Egypt, United States, Uganda and UK.

“With report from the Commission in both Juba and Khartoum, a total of over 3.9 million persons have been registered to vote in the January 9 Referendum, and Kenya is leading in all of the OCV countries, with a total of 15,062,” said Mr Deng.

He was speaking in Nairobi when he briefed journalists on the referendum which may result in the splitting of Africa’s largest country. The referendum is expected to lead to the secession of Southern Sudan.

Mr Deng said that people will be able to vote only where they were registered.

In Nairobi, the voting centres are at the Nairobi Railway Club and Blue Springs Hotel along Thika Road.

In Dadaab, voting will take place at the Family Life Centre while in Kakuma it will be at Clinic 2 in zone 3 and Rajaf Primary School in zone 5.

In Eldoret, the voting will take place at the Rupa Mills, Nakuru voters will cast their ballot at the Menengai Social Hall while in Kitale it will be at the National Museum of Kenya.

Mr Deng said that the final referendum register will be ready on Saturday. He added that the Commission have employed civic educators to help educate the voters on the polling procedures.

He urged the media, observers and other groups interested in the process to get accreditation adding that those without will not be allowed in the referendum centres.

He also urged all Kenyans to support the South Sudanese coming to vote, and also encourage them to come out for polling.