Military Takes Charge In Mombasa

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission at press conference.

BY MURIMI MUTIGA
WEDNESDAY, 6 MARCH, 2013

Dozens of military have been deployed in several parts of Mombasa to beef up security. The army officers were yesterday patrolling parts of the town such as Changamwe and Miritini.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission South Coast coordinator Amina Sudi said the military deployment was necessitated by the Sunday night attack on police and polling stations by suspected Mombasa Republican Council militia.

She said IEBC had requested the government to beef up security in the region to ensure a smooth elec- tion. She at the same time blamed the delayed polling in many stations to MRC attacks. “As you are aware about 99.000 police officers have been deployed to man elections countrywide, when such attacks occur, the police need a back-up and that is why the only option was to use the military,” she said.

At the same time, a polling officer who was arrested at Chandaria hall with rejected ballot papers has been released after it was established he did so “by mistake.”

Meanwhile, vote tallying for the governor, senatorial and women representative went on smoothly until yesterday night despite technical hitches. By the time of going to the press, ODM governor candidate Hassan Joho was leading his rival Suleiman Shahbal of Wiper with a wide margin.