The business community drawn from Kirinyaga County has urged political leaders to exercise restraint and embrace peaceful co-existence ahead of August general elections.
Speaking in Kutus Town after launching a peace caravan to sensitize community on peaceful elections, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce (KNCC), Kirinyaga Chapter, vice chairperson Pauline Wangechi said most businesses suffer in cases of violence during election.
Wangechi noted that cases of violence usually witnessed during the electioneering period, have adverse impacts on the businesses and on to consumers who are the victims to pay the price.
“We as business people join hands with our government in calling for peace before, during and after elections. We want continuity of peace,” Wangechi said.
She added that the County relies on agriculture and whenever there is violence farmers are not able to transport their produce to other counties ending up in huge losses.
“We are in agribusiness county and any violence will affect transport of perishable goods which will cause a lot of losses,” she said.
She further asked politicians and their supporters to keep peace during the campaign season and elect their preferred candidates.
“Politicians should embrace peaceful co-existence, we must be tolerant to divergent views and avoid any form violence, we don’t want to see businesses closed,” she said.
Speaking in the same forum, Kirinyaga East Sub County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) James Wanyoike said the stakeholders will be going round to various areas to preach peace ahead of August general elections
Wanyoike said the era of causing chaos before and after polls is gone and that such incidents must be condemned.
“The ministry of interior wish to engage leaders and all stakeholders to create peace awareness to avoid use of security forces,” he said adding that they are with chamber of commerce to create awareness.
He further added that Kenyans are now bearing the burden of post Covid-19 economic crisis and warned the politicians to avoid intimidation and other retrogressive behavior that puts other people’s lives in danger.
