The government is set to deploy a contingent of the General Service Unit officers to Kisumu County starting Wednesday in a bid to bolster the region’s security ahead of the March 4 polls.
Kisumu County has been mapped as one of the major violence hotspots in the country.
According to Kisumu East District Commissioner Willy Cheboi, the officers are being deployed early because of the recent history of violence in the county.
Cheboi however allayed fears that the presence of the officers may intimidate local residents and urged them to fully maintain peace before, during and after the general elections.
“Do not be worried when you see the officers around because they will be here to maintain peace and not to harass anyone,” he said.
Speaking to reporters in his office, Cheboi dismissed allegations that members of the Indian business community were not restocking their shops for fear of violence, saying that was propaganda meant to tarnish the image of the county.
He assured the business community that the District security team had looked into their concerns and was working round the clock to ensure that their businesses were properly safeguarded.
The DC warned politicians against using inflammatory statements that may trigger chaos adding that any politician found culpable will meet the full wrath of the law.
He said they are not going to take chances with the security of the lake side county and they do not want a repeat of what happened as a result of the disputed 2007 elections.
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