The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has reached out to the public transport sector to bolster peace initiatives ahead of the 2022 general elections.
The commission, which held a meeting with players in the sector at a Kisumu hotel, banks on the Sh. 200 Billion sector to play a leading role in uniting Kenyans to avoid tension and violence during and after the elections.
NCIC Commissioner Eng. Phillip Okundi said the sector was critical to the commission’s roadmap towards peaceful elections given their daily interactions with Kenyans from all walks of life.
Okundi asked the operators to take advantage of the nature of their work to preach peace and unity to ensure that the country is not divided as the elections draw near.
The sector which is mainly constituted of youth, he said must desist from any forms of violence and misuse by politicians to prevent skirmishes associated with elections.
He added that NCIC has launched a roadmap to peaceful 2022 elections where they are engaging other stakeholders to ensure that the exercise runs smoothly.
He added that the commission has formed a multi-sectoral committee which shall vet those seeking political office in the 2022 general elections adding that anybody found to have engaged in hate speech shall be barred from running.
The commission, he said, was working closely with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and other stakeholders at grassroots level to make the vetting a success.
Speaking during the same occasion, NCIC Commissioner Dorcas Kedogo called for tolerance to keep the country united urging leaders to tone down on divisive politics.
The commission, she said, was working closely with grassroots partners to monitor hate speech and other malpractices that are a threat to peaceful elections.
by Bill Odhiambo/Joseph Otieno
