Let peace prevail in campaigns, Matiang’i
Munira Mandano
Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said yesterday that stringent security measures have been put in place ahead of the Msambweni by-election scheduled for Tuesday next week.
Speaking after meeting various security agents in Kwale county, Dr Matiang’i said: “Msambweni constituency is the mother of Diani, the tourist attraction centre and the by-election is set to take place in December, which is our holiday month. Therefore security will be beefed up ahead of both occasions.”
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Matiang’i added that tourists must enjoy their holidays without any tension and therefore candidates contesting in the by-election must conduct their campaigns peacefully without causing any unnecessary tension in the area.
“I want to assure the tourists who will be coming to Diani for their holidays that nobody will disturb when they come and they should enjoy their holidays in full,” said the CS.
He also added that the security agents are alert and candidates and campaigners who will disturb the peace will not be tolerated.
“Diani is safe and secure and nobody should cause any tension,” he insisted.
However, Matiang’i dismissed the reports that the government has a preferred candidate in the by-election
“It is nothing but propaganda that one of the candidates is calling himself a government candidate. Since when did a government have a candidate?
Let that candidate look for other things to woo the voters with and not that narrative,” he said.
Kwale governor Salim Mvurya also urged politicians to maintain peace during the campaign period
“When campaigning let’s do it carefully without causing any form of tension,” Mvurya said.
In October the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared eight candidates to run in the Msambweni parliamentary by-election slated for December 15.
The aspirants cleared to contest for the seat left vacant following the demise area lawmaker Suleiman Dori in March include three independent candidates.
The cleared contestants are Charles Bilali (Independent) Mansury Kumaka (Independent), Ali Hassan Mwakulonda (Party of Economic Democracy), Marere Wamwachai (National Vision Party), Sheikh Mahmoud (Wiper Party), Khamis Mwakaonje Liganje (United Green Movement), Omari Idd Boga (ODM) and Feisal Abdallah Bader (Independent).
However, a recent opinion poll showed there could be voter apathy during the by-election.
The study was conducted by Trends and Insights For Africa, which established that at least 42 per cent of voters said they will skip the vote because they will be too busy.
