Kisa East By-Election: Four Arrested After Police Intercept Vehicle Loaded With Crude Weapons
“The National Police Service repeats that it is irrevocably committed to the maintenance of law and order throughout the country,” part of the statement by the NPS read.
Police officers on patrol during the Kisa East Ward by-election intercepted a white Toyota Hilux carrying a cache of weapons. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Security operations were intensified in Khwisero, Kakamega County on Thursday, after police officers arrested four people found with crude weapons during the Kisa East Ward by-election. The incident happened at Munjiti, where officers conducting routine patrols became suspicious of a white Toyota Hilux that appeared to be moving irregularly near the polling centers.
Upon stopping and searching the vehicle, police found a cache of weapons, including stones and wooden clubs, which were suspected of being intended to disrupt the voting exercise. Immediately, the four occupants of the vehicle were arrested and taken to the nearest police station. They were booked into custody as the investigations began, and the authorities said they would be processed and charged in court once the initial procedures are complete.
This is happening at a time when tension has heightened regarding several by-elections happening across the country. Early the same day, 16 suspects were arrested in Kasipul Constituency after reportedly attacking the Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament, Peter Kaluma, during the ongoing by-election exercise. Concerns about the increasing incidents of election-related violence and groups trying to intimidate voters or influence the process through unlawful means have been raised.
The National Police Service says the arrests are part of a larger effort to ensure the by-elections happen peacefully and without interference. The NPS assured in a statement it issued on Thursday of its commitment to securing the public, with all officers deployed across all regions where electoral activities take place aimed at preventing chaos, voter suppression, and other criminal acts that may compromise the integrity of the polls.
“The National Police Service repeats that it is irrevocably committed to the maintenance of law and order throughout the country,” part of the statement by the NPS read. The service warned that anyone found to compromise peaceful elections through violence, intimidation, or offensive weapons shall be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, local leaders and residents have also called for calm, with appeals to political supporters to restrain themselves and let voting continue uninterrupted. Police were further increasing surveillance in hotspots, aimed at deterring further incidents in order to reassure the public that they would be kept safe as the by-election continued. The recent arrests shed light on the lingering problem of election-related violence in Kenya and the critical role law enforcement agencies play in safeguarding democratic processes. Authorities, as investigations continue, are hopeful that swift action may deter similar attempts to interfere with the electoral exercise and make the point that there is no place for violence in the country’s political landscape.
About Author
