Over 180,000 police officers will be trained on issues of security to ensure the coming August elections are conducted peacefully. Police spokesman Mr Charles Owino affirmed that the police have done well since the party primaries and as a department, they still have plans to ensure there is enough security during the electioneering period.
However, some women candidates have requested the police to provide them with extra security saying that they encounter more risks in their campaigns than their male counterparts.
“The country’s best bet for the two-thirds gender rule is putting in place strategies to protect women vying for various political posts from violence, especially those competing against men,” Mr Owino noted.
He said they did not have the numbers to accord all aspirants security. The force is only mandated by law to provide security to presidential aspirants and their running mates.
However, Owino urged them to act as a go-between with police officers in their areas during the electioneering period.
The women, who were attending a Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) workshop in Nairobi, said the late Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery had assured them of adequate security before and after the electioneering process.
Mrs Isabella Masinde an aspirant for the women representative seat in Busia county urged Fida to conduct civic education to enable Kenyans to understand that leadership is not about gender but about electing leaders with a vision to spur development in the country.
Mrs Masinde could not hesitate to mention her plans for Busia county people. She affirmed that she is passionate about women and youth empowerment adding that she will ensure people are well trained to restore their hopes.
“My leadership will promote entrepreneurial skills through modern farming and table banking that will enable our communities to get credit facilities,” added Mrs Masinde.