KENYA: KCCB for Peaceful and Credible Election
Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) through the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) and the Commission for Social Communications – Waumini Communications is committed to ensure that Kenya attains credible and peaceful elections slated for August, 2017.
A communications team drawn from the two commissions, the Catholic Radios with the assistance of consultants, early this week congregated for a three-day workshop to strategize on how to develop peace messages that would be relayed on televisions, radios, newspapers and on digital platforms across the country and beyond.
The team which is to work closely with the Bishops and priests in ensuring that political leaders and Kenyans embrace peace was informed that the Country need credible elections for Kenyans to get a government that is mandated by the will of the people of Kenya and peace because without peace the economic and social pillar as well as the governance pillar all collapse.
Addressing the team at Emmaus Centre in Nairobi, Future of Kenya Foundation Democratic Governance, Policy and Strategy Specialist, Africa Region Cyprian Nyamwamu said, there is need to set up a serious and strong vetting mechanism consistent with Chapter 6 of the constitution of Kenya to ensure that corrupt, fraudulent, anti-democracy, anti-cohesion and anti-peace individuals do not get elected to power come August, 2017.
Nyamwamu said, the Campaigns must be governed to ensure it is nonviolent and abides by the standards of Article 81 of the constitution. “We need to deal with hate speech, incitement, ethnic and clan biases that are likely to bring about serious conflicts and possible violence in the counties and even nationally.” He said
“This ethnic balkanization of our nation and reducing elections to an ethnic census must be stopped by a group of conscious and courageous Kenyans who present a different and people centered narrative.” Nyamwamu added.
He also noted that, there is need for a robust framework for election monitoring and observation of all the pre-election, election and post election processes in order to promote the credibility of the process revealing that, currently the government is not interested in funding the process of observation or civic education leaving this at the mercy of foreign supporters- mostly through taxes of other nationals- which is regrettable.
The Catholic Church’s campaign for Peaceful and Credible election in Kenya will commence by the launch of the Lenten campaign which is scheduled to take place on 25th, February, 2017 at the University of Nairobi Graduation Grounds.
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By Rose Achiego
