Kenya to deploy 10,000 police forces for Pope visit

Kenyan officials have said some 10,000 police officers will be deployed to boost security during Pope Francis’ forthcoming visit to Kenya.

State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said on Sunday Kenya expects one million people to travel to Nairobi to welcome the Pope, who is scheduled to arrive in the country on November 25 and stay up to November 27.

"Security agencies continue to fine-tune plans to secure the city during a particularly busy period, and when we expect Nairobi's population to swell by an additional one million people," he added.

Esipisu noted that the government is working closely with the Catholic Church to pull off a "very successful experience for the Pope."

He touched on US President Barack Obama's visit to Kenya in July, saying, "Unlike the visit by President Barack Obama when the government encouraged Kenyans to stay home, we are encouraging Kenyans to flock into the city in their numbers to cheer the pope and celebrate mass with him."

Bishop Alfred Rotich, who is heading the local Catholic parish's preparations in Kenya, said up to one billion people from across the globe will be watching the event.

Kenya has been grappling with a worsening security crisis as the deadly violence fueled by the al-Shabab militant group based in neighboring Somalia has spilled over.

In April, al-Shabab militants stormed the Garissa University College campus and took hundreds of students hostage. The terrorist attack left 148 students and security forces dead and 79 others injured.

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