These six counties are likely to experience electoral violence

National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has listed six counties likely to experience some degree of poll related violence.

According to the commission’s report violence is likely to erupt in those counties due ethnic inequality, competition over scarce resources and the presence of organized criminal gangs. 

The six counties include Nakuru, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, Mombasa and Kericho. 

The study which was conducted between January and April also revealed that Embu has the lowest risk of poll-related violence.

Trust

Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, NCIC stated that the biggest cause of electoral violence is a lack of trust in the agencies tasked with delivering credible polls.

The study further revealed that Kenya’s national electoral violence index for 2022 is 53.43 percent, with 31 counties likely to have peaceful elections.

Narok Marsabit, Laikipia, Lamu, Baring, Isiolo, Meru, Nandi, Samburu, and Bomet were classified as medium high risk.

The study which was conducted between January and April also revealed that Embu has the lowest risk of poll-related violence.

NCIC now recommends multi-sectoral collaboration among agencies, democracy protection, inclusion and sensitive reporting as ways of preventing violence.