Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho yesterday allayed fears of election-related violence and discouraged relocations ahead of next week’s polls.

 Speaking on a local radio station, Dr Kibicho said there was no cause for fear that chaos will erupt before, during and after elections, as adequate security has been deployed across the country with special attention to traditional and emerging hotspots.

“There is absolutely no reason for panic as most of the country is green in colour in our potential hotspots map which means there is no cause for alarm,” the PS said.

The PS went on: “Based on past experiences and other factors, we have been mapping out areas vulnerable to disturbances and have deployed according to the heat maps to ensure every single Kenyan is safe during this period,” he said.

Kibicho told Kenyans to ignore the ongoing scaremongering that is encouraging panic buying of essential commodities as the government had put in place strategies to ensure peace and freedom of movement of people and goods throughout the electioneering period.

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He attributed the optimism that peace and order will prevail to the fact that there have been early election security preparedness that began over three years ago and reforms in the security sector in the last nine years.

Reforms include the raising of salaries and allowances for police, chiefs and other members of the National Government Administration Officers and better kitting and allocation of more modern relevant equipment.

 The PS criticised a section of leaders, who he said were trying to gain political mileage by making incorrect claims about police salaries and criticising their new-look uniform.

 “You have heard these honey-tongued politicians telling barefaced lies that we have done nothing to improve the well-being of our officers. They know that they are insincere and are only trying to pander to the interests of the voters in a desperate attempt to gain support,” he said.