Groups confident of peaceful elections
Civil society groups are optimistic that the next General Election will be free of violence.
They asked Kenyans to play their role in shunning activities that may fan chaos including hate messages that may rekindle the violence witnessed after the disputed 2007 polls.
At a Thursday breakfast meeting organised by the ‘My Kenya’ campaign, which was launched in January to inspire Kenyans towards peaceful elections, the groups said Kenyans should not be scared or worried that they will witness a repeat of violence witnessed in previous elections.
“We have great hope that no sane man will be out to cause chaos again during the coming elections,” said Oliver Kisaka of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK).
More than 1,000 people died and 650,000 others were displaced in the violence triggered by the release of the 2007 presidential election results. The business community lost an estimated Sh10 billion in the violence.
“We are positive that there will be no violence and that the elections will be held in a peaceful and sober manner,” he said, while explaining their decision to send more than 6,000 signatures to the International Criminal Court to take over the cases against perpetrators of the post-election violence cases.
Four Kenyans- Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang are awaiting trial at The Hague court.
“We implored upon our leaders to set up a local tribunal to try the violence suspects but they did not. That is why we took that decision. The differences of yesterday should not hold us back from making concrete steps towards peaceful general elections later on."
The ‘My Kenya’ campaign is being spearheaded by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance. It will be implemented in three phases. It 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.
At the end of the campaign, expected to run for at least 13 months, 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.
Former Ethics and Governance PS John Githongo said focus should now be shifted on youth empowerment as they are usually misused to foment violence during elections.
“They have a bigger stake in the future of this country. We need to find a way to bring them into this campaign,” he said.
“We also need to address some of the issues that will bubble up during the general elections, like the ones coming up around the Coast province,” he said in an apparent reference to the Mombasa Republican Council, an outlawed group which is calling for secession.
Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth of the Catholic Justice Peace Commission said Kenyans should not go to the elections with biases and negative attitudes.
But he proposed that peace groups be established and sent to violence hotspots to advice the residents of importance of maintaining peace during such events.
Mrs Rukia Subow, the chairperson of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake said she will mobilise women to spread peace messages ahead of the elections.
