Grassroots elders start peace campaign
Mombasa County Commissioner Maalim Mohamed (left) with National Cohesion and Integration Commission commissioners Roba Sharamo (centre) and Dr Joseph Nasongo during a meeting at Mr Mohamed's office in Mombasa on June 14, 2016. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Elders promise to work closely with authorities to tame hate-mongering politicians.
Grassroots elders have started a peace campaign as political temperatures in the country rise due to next year’s General Election.
On Tuesday, the elders also called on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to take action against politicians promoting hatred.
Speaking at the County Commissioner Maalim Mohamed’s office under the Mombasa County Peace Forum, the elders promised to work closely with the authorities to tame hate-mongering politicians.
“Our strong message is that of peace,” said the forum’s chairman, Mr Mohamed Jahazi. “We are witnessing worrying trends in our country, of politicians promoting hatred among citizens.
“That is very dangerous. We want peace restored.”
The elders were meeting with cohesion commissioners Joseph Nasongo and Roba Sharamo, as well as and Mr Mohamed.
Mr Jahazi said more often than not, politicians purported to speak for their voters when they had not consulted them. He urged voters to reject such leaders.
“They insult, abuse, spread hatred, purporting to be speaking for us,” said Mr Jahazi. “They are liars, speaking their minds only for their own good.
“Don’t listen to them. We are asking such leaders to listen to the voice of the people,” he said.
He said the forum would soon launch monitoring mechanisms on politicians with a view to handing over the hate mongers to the cohesion and security agents.
Dr Nasongo and Dr Sharamo said the commission had launched nationwide grassroots sensitisation.
“We are noticing rising and dangerous political heat ahead of the polls”, said Mr Sharamo. “We have now started the Uwiano Two initiative to mobilise grassroots county elders and structures to counter this.
“We have also noticed that, here in Coast, tension is rising between indigenous and upcountry peoples due to incitement,” he said.
Condemning a Nakuru incident in which some people attempted to evict former Prime Minister Raila Odinga from a hotel, he said zoning the country into tribal enclaves was dangerous.
Dr Sharamo said that the cohesion team would soon release an audit report showing how 30 out of the 47 counties had flouted employment rules that demand the hiring of 70 per cent locals.
