More security personnel including General Service (GSU) and the quick response units have been deployed in Nyali to quell building political tension, Mombasa county commissioner John Otieno has said.
This is in the wake of a building political tension in Nyali constituency after rival camps pitting area Member of Parliament Mohamed Ali and his competitor Said Abdalla clashed leaving several people injured.
Nyali Mp who was accompanied by a campaign team on Saturday was attacked at Kongowea area by a group of youth believed to be supporting his opponent Said Abdalla.
Abdalla is contesting the seat through the Orange Democratic Party ODM while the incumbent Ali is in the United Democratic Alliance UDA party. On Sunday police launched a probe into the matter.
The duo were on Sunday summoned by top security chiefs at the Mombasa county commissioners office to shed more light over the matter and commit themselves to maintain peace.
Speaking when he met the two candidates at the Uhuru na Kazi building in Mombasa, the Mombasa county commissioner warned them against distracting peace saying More security personnel has been deployed to reinforce existing forces for the installation of peace.
“In the past few days Nyali has experienced some sort of violence when the two leaders are doing their campaigns, and because there has been a problem, that is why we have called them here to iron out a few issues and know how we can stop this trend,” said Otieno.
The government official warned the two candidates to stick to campaign schedules so as to avert collisions during their meet the people tour campoaigns.He said insecurity in Nyali has increased and should be solved amicably.
“They have agreed that they will maintain peace until the elections, because they have committed themselves to o so, we have warned them that at any time there should be no violence, and if they can’t control their supporters, we will have no option than having iebc stop suspend their candidature,” said Otieno.
Otieno said he acted on intelligence reports that had revealed that there was a plan to disrupt elections in some parts of Nyali.He said Nyali still remains a security hotspot and will keenly be on security watch.
“We are calling on police to fast track this cases so that culprits can be taken action, we have also asked the candidates to adhere to campaign schedules, we have also asked them to stop using goons, because goons are the youth who are being misused, “said Otieno
The county commissioner said they will deploy General Service Units GSU and Lebanon security teams to ensure there is enough security so that elections can go on as planned.
“We will have enough security deployed, we will deploy GSU officers to reinforce security officers on the ground, we will ensure the candidates have security as they go on with their campaigns to avoid the clashes,” he added.
Speaking after the meeting,Nyali Mp candidate Said Abdalla said they will heed the calls by security apparatus to ensure peace prevails.
On his part Nyali Mp Mohamed Ali said he is ready to conduct his campaigns in accordance with the iebc schedule. He asked the government to ensure there is enough security before, during and after the elections.
Independent electoral and boundaries commission Mombasa returning officer Swalha Yusuf said the commission will have no option than suspend elections in Nyali if the two leaders continue to cause chaos.
“I really urge all the voters to stay calm, because there is a need to ensure everyone is given an opportunity to vote peacefully,” said Yusuf.
