A section of bloggers in Uasin Gishu County has pledged to use their social media influence to preach peace and unity ahead of Tuesday’s General election.
The bloggers made the commitment on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, during a meeting with Uasin Gishu Eminent Persons.
Willy Kenei, the chairperson of the Eminent Persons said they organized an engagement with the bloggers, as part of their effort to ensure a peaceful electioneering period.
“We have discussed issues around fake news and propaganda with the bloggers and we have asked them to share information that is the truth,” Kenei said.
“We want peace and the bloggers have promised that they will focus on sharing information that will promote peace,” he added.
With the emergence of various social media platforms, bloggers have for long been accused of being used to spread hate speech, propaganda and incitement, especially during an election period.
It is because of their influence that the Eminent Persons, which brings together members from religious leaders, scholars and elders among others engaged them in a meeting.
The group has been holding meetings with various stakeholders, pushing for a peaceful election.
“We have had multiple sessions. We met with the County commissioner, security team, gubernatorial aspirants who pledged to preach peace and Member of Parliament candidates as well as IEBC and other stakeholders, all in the push for peace,” said Kenei.
State of business in Uasin Gishu
And amid claims of some communities planning to travel out of Uasin Gishu County ahead of the August 9 poll, the eminent persons’ chairman, and also the Uasin Gishu branch chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) says business has not been disrupted in Eldoret.
“The business sector is okay. It is going on well and as usual. We hope it will remain so even after the election day,” said the KNCCI chairman.
Uasin Gishu is among the counties that the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has listed as high risk of election-related violence.
The Ministry of Interior and National Coordination on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, also listed Eldoret among areas that are vulnerable to disturbance.
“Following approval by the National Security Council for additional resources, security services will bolster deployment of personnel and equipment including aerial assets in Molo, Kuresoi, Eldoret and other areas in the country mapped out as vulnerable to disturbance,” said the Interior CS Dr Fred Matiang’i.
Also Read:
