Police alert in Kenya ahead of Supreme Court judgment as US fires warning

NAIROBI, Kenya - Police in Kenya have been asked to prepare for any eventuality ahead of the Supreme Court verdict on contested presidential polls scheduled on Monday, with the US already warning her citizens about possible chaos in Western Kenya, the home turf of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

On Friday evening, the Supreme Court bench finished hearing the petition lodged by Raila Odinga, which challenges the victory of William Ruto as the President-elect. The court has two days to prepare the judgment based on strict constitutional timelines.

In a statement, Edward Mbugua, the Deputy Inspector General of police, asked the security team to prepare for any eventualities, adding that they should be ready to deal with the aftermath of the judgment, which will give directions on the elections of the president.

The police boss also asked all top security officials to forward their action plan to Kenya Police headquarters by last evening. There is a projection that chaos would erupt either way, whether Raila Odinga wins the petition or loses it.

"Depending on the ruling of the Court of Appeal of Kenya, we expect various reactions from members of the public in hot spot areas such as violence and destruction of property. You are directed to prepare operation orders on how to deal with the aftermath of the ruling,” the letter read in part.

This comes hours after a warning issued by the United States embassy in Nairobi to its citizens traveling to and within Kisumu County ahead of the Monday ruling.

But Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o assured the world that the county will be peaceful either way, adding that the county is a multi-racial society that values every resident. The US had been condemned on social media for "profiling" the Luo community.

"We take the exceptional concern at the tone of the memo which singles out Kisumu and suggests that the city could witness violence after the September 5 court ruling on the presidential election petition," Nyong’o said in a statement.

In 2017, the Supreme Court made history by nullifying the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta, following a petition lodged by Raila Odinga at that time. Should the court nullify Ruto's victory, it would give the country 60 more days to conduct a fresh presidential election.

GAROWE ONLINE