Fears of deadly poll violence as illegal weapons spread in Kenya

NAIROBI: The mass circulation of illegal weapons is raising fear that Kenya is headed for a bloodbath in the event of a contentious election on Tuesday.

According to the National Security Council, about 500 000 are circulating.

The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect projected a recurrence of mass killings at the poll given the high number of weapons in the wrong hands.

Post-election violence in 2007-2008 left 1 133 Kenyans dead and more than 663 000 displaced.

An official said while the election in 2013 was relatively peaceful, increased ethnic and political tensions left populations at risk of mass atrocities.

Kenya is already gripped by tension following the murder of a technology executive of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Chris Msando. No arrests have been made.

As the general election approaches, authorities have identified 20 counties as potential hot spots for protests, riots, ethnic clashes, terrorist attacks and land- and resource-based conflicts. Despite government deploying additional police to hot spots, security forces lack the capacity to mediate inter-communal tensions.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has also noted that “insensitive and sensational reporting” by some radio stations and social media is exacerbating tensions.

Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta is generally seen as representing the interests of the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities.

His main opponent Raila Odinga has strong support among ethnic Luos and other smaller ethnic groups.

Some politicians have been accused of deliberately heightening ethnic rivalries ahead of the poll. – CAJ News