Industry chiefs launch peace campaign ahead of elections

Captains of commerce and industry on Monday rallied Kenyans to shun violence as they launched a campaign to inspire the country towards a peaceful General Election.

Dubbed “My Kenya”, the crusade will ensure the country does not witness a repeat of the violence witnessed in previous elections, the worst being after the disputed 2007 poll.

More than 1,000 people lost their lives with more than 650,000 others being rendered homeless in the violence triggered by the release of the presidential election results.

The campaign was unveiled on Monday by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) at a breakfast meeting with the country’s top chief executive officers in Nairobi.

Kepsa chairman Patrick Obath said the campaign will take many forms, including the use of media advertisements, roadshows, music concerts, and others, all with a powerful message reminding Kenyans of the need to shun violence.

“We have had violence in previous elections, but they were not like in 2008. We should now be proactive and ensure that the violence does not occur again in this country that is undergoing a major change in terms of governance as a result of the new Constitution,” said Mr Obath.

The business community lost an estimated Sh10 billion during the 2007/08 violence.

At the end of the campaign, it is expected that there will be a peaceful transition of power.

The team also envisages that it will lead to prosperity for all Kenyans, ensure jobs, security, and productivity.

Already, to run the campaign over the next 13 months, the team requires at least Sh400 million, with corporate organisation and Kenyans encouraged to chip in.

At the event some Sh33 million was raised.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers will audit how the funds collected are spent.

Kenya Association of Manufacturer’s CEO Betty Maina said the business community, which was hard-hit by the violence, must assist the country so that it does not slide back to where it was then.

Mr Jeff Immelt, visiting chief executive of leading American company, General Electric, said investors were keen to set up shop in the country but they needed an environment where the rule of law is respected.

“The more stability there is, the further we shall go with our investments in this country,” he said.

Starving Kenyans

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore and his Kenya Commercial Bank counterpart Martin Oduor-Otieno shared their experiences with the “Kenyans for Kenya” campaign, which raised funds to feed starving Kenyans in northern Kenya.

“None of us will be happy if we see a repeat of the violence…without such initiatives, the country will be in problems if tensions are not nipped in the bud,” said Mr Collymore.

The campaign received support from civil society and faith-based organisations.

Mr Morris Odhiambo, the President of the Civil Society Congress, said political violence usually starts before elections and this should be stopped early.

Mr Adan Wachu of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims and Pastor Oscar Muriu of the faith-based groups said they will rally their congregations to say “No” to violence.