KENYA: Sisters-Led Peace Caravan Ahead of Kenya’s August 9 Polls, Aims to Promote Harmony at Grassroots
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As the country looks forward to the upcoming General Elections in less than two weeks’ time, members of the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Anna (FSSA) congregation are advocating for peace calling on citizens to embrace and promote harmony before, during, and after the elections.
In an interview with one of the leaders of the FSSA congregation Sr. Florence Atieno Ochieng on the significance of the peace walk by the Religious women, on Thursday, July 28, the nun narrated that the walk “was meant to inspire the people from grassroots to value peace and advocate for the same so they can prepare for free, fair and credible elections without violence.”
Sr. Atieno who was part of the peace walk organizing team highlighted that the Caravan that was flagged off Saturday July, 23, by the Assistant Commissioner of Kisumu county Mr. William Cheruiyot Langat, traversed more than ten estates mapped out as possible hotspots for violence within the county, and the peace walk was joined by some priests and Christians of St. Joseph Milimani Parish in Kisumu’s Archdiocese.
The initiative that was spearheaded by the FSSA congregation in collaboration with the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK) an umbrella body for consecrated women whose mission is to foster mutual support and promote holistic formation of women Religious for authentic witness through sustainable programmes, and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) an international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States who aims to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas , attracted about 150 participants who were guided by the security from the government through the Saturday peace walk. 
Additionally, Sr. Atieno the Vicaress of the FSSA’s Kisumu region, disclosed that prior to the peace caravan, the Religious women for three consecutive days organized peace talks on Radio Maria Kisumu to help inspire and improve peoples’ understanding of the importance of embracing peace during the electioneering period.
“During the radio program, we sensitized people about peace in the families, peace with the youths and how they should keep off from violence knowing they still have a future,” she said and continued, “We also talked about peace and protection of children during this election time as children should not be left to run after the politicians now and even on the voting day.”
On his part, Fr. Shadrack Malo of Kisumu Archdiocese who also joined the nuns and led the prayers for Saturday’s activity noted, “As most Religious women work with institutions that promote peaceful coexistence in the society, coming up with this initiative to walk and proclaim the message of peace, is a sign that members of the FSSA are being true to what they stand for in the Spirit of St. Francis of Assisi in the prayer: Lord make me an instrument of your peace.”
He shared in an interview with AMECEA online Thursday, July 28, that “since Kisumu Central has for a long time been characterized by electoral violence during elections and people have lost their lives, the Sisters’ initiative to promote peace shows their concern.”
According to the Parish Chairman of St. Joseph Milimani, Mr. Stephen Onyango, the initiative by the sisters was highly welcome by the Christians who joined the Saturday’s peace walk.
“The response of the Christians was an indication that they were highly psyched up to participate in the Peace Walk. This positive drive was evidenced in the high turnout of Christians during the Holy Mass for the Peace Walk,” He said.
Referencing an incident in Kisumu that was termed as “police brutality” in the August 2017 post-election chaos the parish chairman underscored, “The memory of the fate of Baby Samantha Pendo coupled with violence related deaths in Kisumu, was the impetus behind the Christians participation in the peace walk.”
He appreciated the radio peace talks initiated by the FSSA which gave an opportunity to Christians of St. Joseph Milimani Parish to participate at the Radio Maria Talk shows for three days, an activity which he says had “immense support” and gave an opportunity to the Catholic Justice and peace Department (CJPD) in the parish “to achieve their objective of civic education concerning peaceful election.”
Asked in an interview how the peace caravan has impacted the lives of the Christians as they focus on the upcoming elections Mr. Onyango said, “since the initiative became popular in the Parish, I have witnessed a positive perception from Christians about the role of the church in achieving a peaceful election.’
“Majority of the Christians have asked if a mechanism for ensuring an immediate response to any distress encountered during elections could be put in place,” he added noting that Christians are still sharing more peace messages.
