Police issue restrictions for Central aspirants ahead of Jubilee primaries
Central region police boss Larry Kieng during a past press conference. He has banned night movements by aspirants in the central region as a security measure. FILE PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Police in central Kenya have banned night movements by all political aspirants in the region ahead of Jubilee Party primaries as a security measure.
Central Region Police Coordinator Larry Kieng said all aspirants will be required to notify police on their plans to move at night so that security can be provided for them.
The police boss cited an increase in attacks on aspirants with only two days left to the party nominations.
“These attacks are becoming too many and as an additional security measure no aspirant should move around at night without notifying the police between now and Friday,” he said.
But Mr Kieng said his team has no intention of infringing the politicians' right of movement but the move is a temporary security measure.
The police boss added that campaigning during the night is prohibited.
In the past three days alone, four attacks have been reported in Kiambu and Nyeri counties.
INCREASED ATTACKS
In the most recent incident, Senate aspirant Sheila Waruguru Githaiga was attacked in Kieni West while campaigning.
A Kiambu aspirant was reported missing on Monday night after his vandalised vehicle was found in Gitaru.
According to police reports, Kennedy Kabaka, who is vying for the Ikinu Ward seat, was driving in Gitaru when he went missing.
On Sunday, Kabete parliamentary aspirant Charles Chege Gitau said he was drugged by unknown people on Friday night.
Similarly, a parliamentary aspirant in Tetu, Nyeri, was attacked and injured by hooded men in Mbaani village.
Ann Kanyi said the men threatened to kill her if she did not drop out of the race.
Mr Kieng’ also warned aspirants against stage-managing attacks and abductions, saying those found culpable will be arrested and prosecuted.
“We are conducting very thorough investigations into the reports that we have so far and anybody found to have stage-managed being attacked will be in serious trouble,” said the police boss.
He said a number of inconsistencies in some cases have raised questions about the validity of the reported attacks and that detectives are investigating the claims.
