Over 100 youth from Kajiado County held a peace walk to advocate for peace ahead of the forthcoming August General Elections.
The 10KM peace walk was organized by Kajiado Youth Parliament in collaboration with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), AMREF among other partners.
The walk whose theme was ‘Elections bila noma’ saw the youth walk around the streets of Kajiado town in a mission to sensitize locals on the importance of maintaining peace before and after elections.
Melvin Polonet, a member of the Kajiado Youth Assembly, urged the youth to be agents of peace and desist from being used by politicians to cause chaos during election campaigns.
He regretted that the youth have allowed themselves to be used by aspirants seeking various elective seats to cause mayhem against their opponents.
“I am calling on the youth of this country to desist from being used by politicians to cause chaos during campaigns and after elections. Do not accept any cash to cause mayhem but instead preach peaceful coexistence and brotherhood,” Polonet said.
Polonet noted that Kenya has in the past witnessed violence especially after the polls caused by disputes in election outcomes resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property.
He said the violence disrupts peace and businesses resulting in job losses and the youth are most affected.
Sisina Kelembu, another youth reiterated Polonet’s sentiments adding that for the economy to flourish, then peace must be maintained at all times
She called on the youth to preach peace in their neighborhoods and among their peers and report those who may want to bribe them to cause violence to the authorities.
“If we as youth refuse to be bribed by politicians to cause chaos during political rallies and after elections then we will be able to maintain peace in our country and live together in unity,” Sisina said.
NACADA South Rift Manager Robert Olwenyi, called on politicians to desist from utterances that may cause tensions and ethnic divisions during their campaigns.
Olwenyi further advised the youth to stop engaging in illegal activities but instead look for ways of bettering themselves socially and economically.
