A section of religious leaders and vulnerable groups in Uasin Gishu County have committed to taking a leading role in preaching peace and unity ahead of the upcoming general election.
Led by the North Rift Muslim youth leader Jamal Diriwo Omari and Pastor Daniel Ndung’u, the leaders signed a peace accord with among other street families, the elderly and persons living with disabilities in Eldoret town.
Speaking during the event, they lamented that despite being the most vulnerable during election-related violence, they have been sidelined in campaigns aimed at ensuring there is peace before, during and after the August 9 poll.
“We have homes and a place to run to when there is violence, but where will street children or those with various disabilities go to? That is why we’re here and have agreed that we need peace,” said Ndung’u.
Similar sentiments were shared by Omari, who challenged political leaders to help in pushing for a peaceful election period.
He said Kenya has for a long time played a key role in peacebuilding missions across Africa and globally, and that any violence would undo rebuilding efforts the country has made since the 2007/08 post-election violence.
Vulnerable groups in Eldoret join peace preaching efforts
Kenya is a key supporter of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping efforts in the international system. Kenya has over the years remained receptive to requests to contribute to peace operations based on the consent of the parties in the host state.
Some of the countries that Kenya has helped in restoring peace include South Sudan, Siera Leon, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“We don’t want to go back to the events of 2007/08 where other leaders had to come and help us get back the peace and unity,” said the North Rift Muslim youth leader.
After the 2008 violence, it took the intervention of among others the late Kofi Atta Annan to have two factions that had claimed victory to agree to sign a peace accord, a situation the religious leaders don’t want to be repeated ahead of the general election.
“What we wish for is peace for our brothers and neighbours,” said Jamal Diriwo.
During the event, the religious leaders and representatives of the vulnerable groups appended their signatures, as a sign of their commitment to helping and ensuring peace in Eldoret and neighbouring areas.
