Religious leaders in Kitui County under the umbrella of United Clergy Alliance have urged Kenyans to promote peace before and after the next week August 9 National elections.
The religious leaders cautioned youths against being used by politicians to cause violence, disrupt the prevailing peace and harmony in the country.
Addressing the media in Kitui town yesterday, the clergy urged Kenyans to vote wisely and ignore politicians who are out to divide them for selfish reasons.
Bishop Dr. Ezekiah Muendo, who is the United Clergy Alliance national prayer director, while addressing the media asked Kenyans to approach the election with an aim to electing peaceful and credible leaders who will unite Kenyans and spearhead development in the country.
“All those Politicians seeking to be elected should be ready to concede defeat by accepting results and that elections are not a matter of life and death, there will always be more elections after this one,” Muendo advised the candidates.
“Let us cherish peace and harmony remembering that even if someone loses in next week’s national elections, there will be more National elections and they will have another chance to vie for their respective seats,” said Mwendo, who is also the Eastern Regional chairman of pastors of Kenya Congress of Pentecostal Churches.
He asked aspiring candidates to discourage their supporters from any form of violence and accept the outcome of elections to safeguard peace and unity of the country.
He advised candidates unsatisfied by the election results to seek peaceful means as per constitution to voice their concerns or challenge the results.
“Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission should conduct transparent elections to avoid doubts and avoid mistrust that might provoke and threaten peace in the country,” the clergy advised.
The chairman of pastors also cautioned the clergy on taking political sides observing that they should be wise and careful as he acknowledged that they also have a democratic right as enshrined in the constitution.
Muendo who was accompanied by his four other Bishops of Churches under Pentecostal mission during the media address, reminded church leaders their duty to always preach messages of peace, even after the next week national elections.
Kenya has a history of election violence. Disputed elections in 2007 led to horrific ethnic-based violence which is estimated to have killed up to 1200 people, with many injured, including others who suffered sexual violence. Dozens were killed after the 2017 election, the results of which were contested in the courts.
By Denson Mututo
