Police Inspector General Hillary Mutyambai has issued an directive to all law enforcement officers across the country to report to work as the police prepare for the 2022 general elections.

This therefore means all police officers currently on leave should report back to work, and for those scheduled to proceed to their annual leave to remain on duty starting tomorrow, Friday, June 30, till after the August 9 elections that are approaching fast.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Edward Mbugua sent out a memo to all regional and formation commanders directing all officers on leave to be back to work by Monday, July 4.

“Due to the forthcoming general elections, no officer should be granted leave with effect from July 1, 2022, unless on medical grounds and with doctors’ recommendation. All those officers on leave to be recalled and to be on duty by July 4, 2022,” the memo read.

This comes after last month's police training conducted to ensure effective handling of security challenges arising in this year’s elections in a bid to mitigate past incidents where lives are lost during police patrols and engagements with civilians in previous electioneering periods.

Further, a manual detailing guidelines for police commanders during the August 9 elections was launched in February this year.

Among the guidelines include the principles of impartiality, equal treatment, accountability and rule of law by security agents and provides procedures for maintenance of public order during the election process as well as channels for use in lodging complaints against election security personnel.

The manual which is aimed at complementing the duties of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) also sheds light on the avenues for reporting electoral malpractices and offences in pursuit of free and fair polls.

“We do not conduct elections. Elections are conducted by the IEBC. We only support the commission to conduct elections. When the chairman of the IEBC tells us how many officers are needed to support his process of conducting the elections, we will be ready and present to do exactly that,” Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i assured during the launch of the manual in Nakuru.