The national government creates six new subdistricts in the coastal region

The national government has created six new subdistricts in the coastal region as part of efforts to bring services closer to the people.

Coast Regional Commissioner (RC), John Elungata, announced that Kwale, Kilifi and Tana River counties have each received two new administrative units for improved community services.

Elungata identified the new units as Chonyi, Kauma (Kilifi), Samburu, Shimba Hills (Kwale), and Bangale and Galledyetu in the Tana River.

“The new entities will help bring government services closer together wananchi and also improve security at the grassroots level,” Elungata said when addressing senior police officials, national government administrators from Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita-Taveta and Kwale counties.

The meeting, held at Mombasa’s Sheikh Zayed Hall, was convened to discuss security issues as the country heads towards general elections next month.

Elungata said the multi-agency security team will implement sophisticated measures before, during and after the elections to ensure the safety of all Kenyans.

“The security personnel will crack down on hired criminal gangs and other groups who want to disrupt the elections,” added the regional commissioner.

He identified Changamwe, Malindi, Chonyi and Kipini as election hotspots that will require more security forces to quell any form of violence.

Elungata said the government is committed to promoting peace and unity and ensuring a peaceful electoral process, and urged Kenyans to refrain from activities that would lead to violence during the elections.

He warned politicians against taking actions or making statements that would incite their supporters and risk fueling violence ahead of the upcoming general election.

The senior administrator asked security personnel to be on the lookout for people spreading hate speech at political rallies and on social media.

The regional commissioner called on politicians to campaign peacefully in the countdown to the general elections on August 9 to preserve peace and unity in the country.

Elungata urged those running for various electoral seats to avoid policies of insults and attacks on personalities, and instead conduct campaigns that address issues that would bring people progress.

He urged politicians to campaign for peace and to avoid activities and behavior that could create conflict and tension between different communities.

Elungata, who was flanked by Mombasa County Commissioner John Otieno and Deputy Regional Police Commander Peter Njeru, said that while politicians step up their vote-hunting, they should ensure peace continues in the region.

He appealed to local politicians and their supporters to conduct politics with decency and not see the forthcoming general election as a matter of life and death.