Residents of Embul-bul in Kajiado North constituency have been urged to speak out against violence this election season.
Kilian Nyambu, the Deputy Director of Civic Education at the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, said they should not entertain leaders who wish to propagate violence in the community.
He spoke during a Peace Senitisation exercise at the Embul-bul Catholic Church on Thursday.
Nyambu said that it was the residents’ obligation to safeguard the peace in their communities in order to ensure the safety of everyone.
“You need to be alert about what is happening in the community this election season. Most of the time, you will hear the youth talking about attending various rallies organised by leaders,” he said.
Nyambu advised the residents to listen out for signs of organised violence that leaders may plan to orchestrate using the youth and report these to the Chief or Assistant Chief.
He said it was important to speak out and report such incidents because once violence breaks out, the most innocent and vulnerable in the community including women, children, and the elderly, often suffer the most.
The senitisation campaign dubbed ‘Elections Bila Noma’ was organised by the Ngong Hills Rotary Association in collaboration with NCIC and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Coordination of the National Government.
It aims to create awareness among communities on free and fair elections.
“We want people to know that elections are temporary and therefore not a tool to disrupt peace in society,” said Nyambu.
The residents also took an oath to maintain peace before, during, and after the election.
“I shall not engage in hate speech, insults, and provocative language on behalf of politicians and their cohorts. I shall not discriminate against any person, group or community because of tribe, gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion or any other reason and instead treat all with fairness,” pledged the residents.