When Kenya swore in its first inspector- general of police, David Kimaiyo, the country breathed a sigh of relief. The new police boss promised that his team would spare no effort to restore security in the country and deal firmly with any person attempting to sabotage the holding of peaceful elections in Kenya.

Kenya is preparing for general elections in March, the first in five years since allegations of rigging sparked two months of ethnic clashes that left over a thousand dead and thousands others displaced. Growth plunged to 1.5 percent in 2008 from 7 percent a year earlier, as farmers who generate a quarter of gross domestic product left their fields and tourists fled. The shilling weakened 8.5 percent against the dollar and the NSE 20 equity index fell 11 percent during the 60 days of violence.

If the recurring spate of violence in the country’s Tana Delta as well as the blatant unchecked mayhem experienced during the party primary nominations are anything to go by, the country’s intelligence and security apparatus are sending wrong signals.

With impending elections just a month away and the increased threat of terrorism after KDF  troops launched an assault against al-Shabaab militia in the neighboring Somalia, the security apparatus should put their act right, demonstrate professionalism and avoid sacrificing  the wellbeing of the country  on the altar of political expediency and manipulation. Doing otherwise will plunge the country into warlodism and uncontrolled mayhem.