Coast Regional Commissioner (RC) John Elungata has unveiled a regional multi-sectoral co-ordination and collaboration forum on election preparedness.
Elungata has called on everyone to commit to peaceful elections in the forthcoming August 9, 2022 General Election.
The RC said it is critical that candidates seeking various electoral seats reaffirm to non-violence and a credible electoral process.
He said the government is committed to delivering peaceful elections through the strategic engagement of electoral and political stakeholders.
The regional administrator said the government is determined to support peaceful, inclusive, participatory and credible elections through the engagement of relevant stakeholders.
Elungata called for peace, tolerance and civility in the run-up to the scheduled forthcoming polls noting that the election should never be about a matter of ‘life and death’.
“Its high time Kenyans internalized that general elections are not about the end of the world because we shall be having elections every five years and life will continue as usual” he said.
The senior administrator called on Kenyans from all walks of life to refrain from violence and incitement to violence and hate speech which if left unchecked could plunge the country into the abyss of violence.
Elungata said arising from previous experiences the success of general polls largely depends on the state of preparedness by all key stakeholders in providing a conducive environment for the conduct of the elections.
He said elections need not to be a matter of life and death and thus should not bring about electoral tensions, enmity and fear among Kenyans.
He warned that security agencies are well prepared to deal with criminal groups that threaten the electoral process.
Elungata spoke to the press after launching the regional multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration forum on election preparedness at his boardroom in Uhuru na Kazi offices.
The committee brings together key stakeholders in the electoral process drawn from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Regional Security and Intelligence Committee members, County Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), religious organizations, civil societies, business community, women and youth representatives.
He said all Kenyans have a common destiny no matter their political, ethnic and religious affiliations adding that elections come and go but Kenya will remain as one entity.
The RC particularly appealed to the youth to desist from acts of lawlessness and demonstrate a sense of ‘patriotism and unity’ in the run-up to the high stake August 9 polls.
He said the youth should stand united against political incitement and violence which could harm people on the basis of their political affiliation.
By Mohamed Hassan
