The US Embassy in Kenya has issued a cautionary statement over possible post-election violence in Kisumu during the August 9 polls.
In the statement dated August 2, 2022, the Embassy claimed that it was issuing the advisory out of “abundance of caution”.
“Kenya is scheduled to hold elections on August 9, 2022. Campaigning for local and national offices is fully underway. Kenya has periodically experienced some pre-electoral violence during election cycles. Election-related demonstrations and rallies regularly take place in the runup to the election and are likely to continue, at times blocking key intersections and causing traffic jams. Demonstrations may occasionally be violent, requiring police intervention. Strikes and other protest activities related to economic conditions occur regularly,” the Embassy said.
Movement restrictions in Kisumu
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Embassy has imposed movement restrictions on personnel in Kisumu. The State Department reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for sustained vigilance,” the statement added.
The Embassy did not however include other towns and cities, despite several town centres having been rocked with post-election violence previously.
Kisumu is a stronghold to Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga, who has been leading in the latest opinion polls against his main competitor William Ruto.
