Nairobi Among Five Towns Marked As Post Poll Violence Hotspots

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has mapped out the cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu as possible hotspots for violence during the 2022 elections campaign period.

According to the Daily Nation, the commission noted on Tuesday, February 16 that the cities, alongside towns such as Eldoret and Nakuru, are being closely monitored, with keen attention being given to regions with pre-existing conflicts.

The clashes have been either linked to order or election campaigns and have been reported in Marsabit, Isiolo, Tana River counties among others.

Commissioner Sam Kona noted that they have adopted a preventative approach to violence by engaging community leaders, youth groups, security personnel, and politicians, during his address at the first peace actors forum in Nairobi.

"We're going to use the lessons learned in the past to strengthen response coordination", noted the commissioner.

In Nairobi, the team noted several city informal settlements as possible recruitment grounds for political activities. However, they did not map out specific areas in other counties.

He added that the commission has issued a warning against the use of political manifestos and slogans that accelerate tension and conflict in the country.

"We're not in the business of analyzing or commenting on political manifestos but what we will not shy away from saying is whichever political slogan or manifesto you come up with, NCIC will always be at the forefront of cautioning that which is enhancing differences in our society, be it regional, ethnic, religious or class differences", the commissioner added.

The report comes in the ake of Deputy President William Ruto and his allies possibly facing a five-year jail term under a new proposed law pitting hustler versus dynasty proponents. 

The National Assembly Security Committee on Tuesday, February 16 drafted a bill that aims to punish people who propagate class division in the country with those found guilty sentenced to five years in prison or required to pay a Ksh 5 million fine. 

The bill also stipulates that public officials found guilty can also be removed from office or banned from running for any political seat in subsequent elections. 

Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange said that the National Cohesion and Integration (Amendment) Bill 2021 will curb politicians from creating a class war in Kenya. The lawmaker and his team argued that the hustler narrative was a recipe for incitement and discrimination and should be listed alongside other recognized aspects such as religion, nation, race, and ethnicity. 

"A person who has been dismissed or removed from office for contravention of sections  62 (1) and 62A (1) is disqualified from holding any other state or public office.

"A person who utters words intended to incite feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence, or discrimination against any person, group, or community on the basis of the social status of a person commits an offense liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh 5 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both," read an excerpt of the drafted law.