Diverse leaders in Bomet County have urged communities living along the border of Bomet and Nyamira counties to embrace peace and coexistence before, during and after the August 9 General Election.
Administrators and politicians want enhanced security, urging police to deal with criminal elements to curb violence that hits the region in almost every election circle.
Bomet County Commissioner Beverly Opwora and Sotik Constituency UDA hopeful Francis Sigei asked the communities to shun politicians who preach divisions.
Ms Opwora who was speaking in Bomet town during a prayer meeting organized by churches, urged residents to embrace peace during this election period asking opinion leaders and clergy to be in the forefront of preaching peace.
“We have put in place measures to ensure that the people enjoy peace during the election period. We have brought on board opinion leaders, the clergy, and members of the business community, youth, women and people with disabilities to a round table in a bid to curb violence,” said Ms Opwora.
Though the National Cohesion and Integration Commission marked Bomet a hotspot, she said, proper measures had been taken to ensure people go about their business without fear of attack or destruction of property.
“The political class have committed to conduct peaceful campaigns and those who go against the rules set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure a violence-free campaign and election prevails will be dealt with accordingly,” Ms Opwora added.
We want the people to embrace the full tenets of democracy, where the politicians will only compete on issues, and not employ violence in the campaigns,” said Mr Sigei, a former Nairobi Provincial Commissioner.
