The University of Embu in collaboration with National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) on Friday held a peace walk to promote and advocate for peaceful elections.
The peace walk dubbed ‘Uchaguzi Bila Noma’ which was flagged off at Moi Stadium-Embu saw a number of students walk around the town bearing peace election banners and placards with the aim of sensitizing residents on the need to maintain peaceful campaigns and elections.
The walk organized under the theme, “advocating for peaceful elections 2022’ was facilitated by the university’s Amani Club that was recently registered in line with guidelines developed by NCIC in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
NCIC Deputy Director in charge of Civic Education and Advocacy Killian Nyambu hailed the initiative, saying it was timely having come at a time the country was gearing up for elections that have in the past been characterized by chaos.
“Our history has not been good in regard to elections as more often we have had acrimonious polls that have threatened to tear the country apart,” said Nyambu while flagging-off the peace walk.
This, he said, called for deliberate measures and effort to be made to avert chaos before, during and after elections through advocacy programmes.
He noted that young people were instrumental in the campaign as they are the ones often used by politicians to cause violence during the campaign period and after elections.
“We want to use the students as ambassadors of peace even when they go home for holidays to enlighten masses on the need to maintain harmony and peaceful coexistence amongst themselves,” Nyambu said.
He called on aspirants seeking various elective positions to shun hate and tribal politics, but warned that the commission is on the lookout for electoral offenders with a view of taking measure against them including barring them from contesting.
The University Deputy Vice-chancellor in charge of Planning and Finance, Administration and Finance, Prof. Eucharia Kenya, said they will carry on with the campaign of instilling peace messages among the student fraternity to enhance good character and self-discipline and mold them to become responsible citizens.
By Samuel Waititu
