Residents flee ahead of meeting

Fearful and uncertain about what will happen during Saba Saba rallies called by Cord leader Raila Odinga, some Naivasha residents continued to flee as senior security personnel held a crisis meeting chaired by Deputy County Commissioner Abraham Kemboi.

A spot check by the Nation found families, mostly women and children, boarding buses and matatus destined for western Kenya.

Those interviewed said they would only return when political temperatures had cooled.

But Mr Kemboi assured the residents of their safety, saying that security had been beefed up. He said that officers were conducting 24-hour patrols ahead of Cord’s Monday rally.

FARMS AND HOTELS

He blamed “a few idlers” for circulating hate leaflets in the town.

Speaking after chairing a security meeting in his office on Thursday, Mr Kemboi said he would hold barazas in areas deemed to be hotspots.

The administrator also met senior security managers of various flower farms and hotels who wanted to know the steps being taken to forestall perceived threats to their workers.

Mr Kemboi claimed many of those leaving the area had been retrenched by some firms.

“We have actually been informed that some of the workers were laid off and had opted to travel to their rural homes,” Mr Kemboi said.
Another security manager said they would conduct a census in schools.