The Catholic international aid charity (CAFOD) has called for a peaceful election as Kenyans come out to vote next week.
This is due to the post-election violence that took place in 2007 and 2008 when the results were contested and violence spilled out on to the streets.
The violence led to more than 600,000 people being made homeless; and more than 1,100 killed, according to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission.
CAFOD’s Country Representative, Catherine Ogolla who is based in Nairobi indicated that the Kenyan people need peace, democracy and good governance.
Adding that it can only be achieved through peaceful election. She went on further to plead, stating that the world was watching and Kenya cannot afford to go through another phase of violence.
“The Kenyan people need a sustained commitment to peace, democracy and good governance which can only be achieved through peaceful and transparent elections.
“These are no ordinary elections; the world is watching and, we cannot afford for the social fabric of Kenyan society to be ripped apart again by violence.”
Currently, the north of Kenya is said to be going through a devastating drought and the three consecutive seasons of insufficient rains have led to complete decimation of livestock.
This has led to leaving more than 2.6 million people, struggling to feed themselves.
CAFOD’s local aid workers are working continously to make sure that communities are looked after but are concerned that any election violence will hamper their emergency aid efforts.
“Our local aid workers are working around the clock to ensure that communities have the emergency aid they need before and after the elections.
“At the same time, we are rebuilding the resilience of communities, so that they can better cope in future droughts. Any violence can undermine this vital work.”
CAFOD’s partner, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a pastoral letter issued on 28th July 2017, urged politicians to avoid ‘hate speech’ and for Kenyans to resist and reject any form of incitement.
“We note with appreciation, the relatively peaceful manner in which campaigns have been conducted.
We urge all the candidates to continue conducting themselves with decorum and sobriety in the remaining stretch of the campaigns, in order to achieve cohesion and National integration.
We appeal to the youth to restrain themselves from violence and instead be the agents of peace.”
Kenyans will be heading to the polls to elect a President, County Governor, Senator, Member of Parliament, Woman Representative, and Member of County Assembly.
