The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has warned the the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission against clearing politicians with questionable character to contest in the forthcoming General Election.

NCIC has also proposed that all  politicians eying political seats should acquire a social cohesion certificate noting  that some political leaders propagate hate speech in the guise of looking for votes.

NCIC Commissioner Dorcas Kedogo said as politicians embark on early campaigns, the agency is keen to tame any form of violence.

“We urge IEBC and all other agencies tasked with clearing politicians to contest to ensure they restrict them from contesting should they have questionable integrity,” she  said.

She spoke during a meeting of local security actors on hate speech,ethnic-based political violence and peaceful co-existence in Mombasa county yesterday.

Previous threats by the IEBC and NCIC to take such drastic action against individuals implicated in hate speech have fallen flat.

Before the 2017 polls, the polls team had threatened to bar political candidates named adversely in parliamentary committee reports or with pending integrity issues that they had not appealed against would not be cleared to vie. But the threat just remained on paper.

Crosshead

And three weeks ago, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chief executive Twalib Mbarak disclosed that the agency has profiled at least 200 individuals implicated in graft, who could be barred from vying for elective posts.

At the same time, the Government has urged security agencies at the Coast to be on high alert as the country stares at a heated political season next year.

Mombasa County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo acknowledged that the region has been grappling with  juvenile criminal gangs, terrorism and  land grabbing that, he said, should be tamed before the electioneering period.

“We have issues here at the Coast that require serious attention. We have juvenile criminal gangs and land grabbers who have continued to spread  fear among residents.

We, therefore, urge all government agencies to tighten their belts so that we can bring law and order in the region before the political season gains momentum,” said Kitiyo.

The administrator said a multi-agency security committee has been formed to probe suspected land grabbers.

The duo spoke during a training of local security actors on hate speech, ethnic based political violence and peaceful coexistence in Mombasa county.