Kenya is at the centre of attention again as political campaigns entered the home stretch this week with political parties nominating candidates for the various position of a devolved system of government.

The complexity of this year’s General Election, slated for March 4, the pending trial of four suspects at the International Criminal Court, the high stakes involved in the country’s top job and a possible run-off in the presidential poll are threatening the prospects for a peaceful poll.

READ: Alliances and devolution: Are politicians misleading Kenyans?

The leading candidates for the country’s leadership are Prime Minister Raila Odinga of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee coalition.

Other candidates include Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Peter Kenneth, Martha Karua and Moses ole Kiyiapi.

READ: The real deal breakers in Kibaki succession race

Mr Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto are facing charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC and their trials are scheduled to begin on April 10 and 11, which could interfere with their campaigns should there be a presidential run-off.

Intelligence reports have already identified hotspots for swift action to avoid a repeat of the 2007 post-election violence that nearly brought the country’s economy to its knees.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission, the body charged with the responsibility of promoting peaceful coexistence among Kenyans, said all government agencies are sharing crucial information to nip election violence in the bud this time round.

Dr Kibunjia said security agents working across the country have already identified danger zones, where political rivalry could lead to flare-ups, and law enforcers will be deployed before election day.

“I would say there is unprecedented information-sharing possible hotspots unlike in 2007, so I don’t think the situation will be the same,” the commission chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia told The EastAfrican.

But the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has warned that the manufacturing sector is likely to post slow growth in the first quarter of this year as investors hold back their investment plans until after the elections.

KAM chief executive Betty Maina said both local and foreign investors are concerned that they could be subjected to losses this year should violence erupt again.

“In the 2007/8 post-election violence, industry lost over Ksh10 billion ($117.6 million) and more than 4000 jobs, while foreign direct investment plummeted by almost 75 per cent from $729 million to $183 million. A repeat could bring industry to its knees. Investors are holding their cards close to their chest as they await the outcome of the March elections,” Ms Maina said.

KAM hosted chief executives of various companies to a meeting on Thursday in Nairobi to brainstorm on risks and safeguards ahead of the elections.

A New York-based organisation, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), has released a report raising the red flag over a possible outbreak of violence in East Africa’s largest economy. The report listed six indicators that Kenya could burn again this year.

CFR cast doubt on security arrangements, pointing out the inadequate numbers of police officers, which is below the international standards set by the United Nations.

It said that Kenya has approximately 70,000 police officers, or roughly 160 per 100,000 people, which is less than three-quarters of the 220 per 100,000 recommended by the United Nations.

The recently formed Kenya Police Service Commission in November has recruited 7,000 police officers, who reported to training schools last weekend, but the move will have no effect as the recruits will undergo a 15-month training programme. Police say 66,000 police officers will be deployed to maintain law and order at polling centres on election day.

Newly appointed Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo told the Political Parties’ Liaison Committee (PPLC) this week that police have identified conflict-prone areas where law enforcers will be deployed to keep the peace.

The committee met last week to review the ongoing campaigns amid reports that some candidates are being intimidated because of their party affiliation.

PPLC is a forum for consultations and consensus building between political parties, on the one hand, and the electoral commission on the other, so as to ensure free, fair peaceful and transparent elections.

The CFR report also pointed out that the late acquisition of voter registration kits by the electoral commission, the pending trial of Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto at the ICC, the formation and arming of militias in some parts of the country and renewal of hate speech by politicians as some of the factors that could trigger violence.