Candidates in Trans Nzoia Call for Peaceful Campaigns Ahead of Elections in August –

‘’ We are asking politicians to ensure that they don’t spew hate during their campaigns. This will save us as a county and a country from the shackles of the 2007 post-election violence monster‘’- WR Janet Nangabo

She asked the Communications Authority of Kenya CAK and the independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC to connect newly gazetted polling centres with 4G network coverage in order to avail proper communications services during voting day

Azimio governor aspirant George Natembeya through his personal assistant Emmanuel Wanjala asked politicians eying elective seats in the county to exercise restraint and embrace peaceful coexistence during these electioneering campaigns

On Wednesday, aspirants seeking elective seats in Trans Nzoia County stood in solidarity calling upon all other political players to conduct their campaigns peacefully. They spoke at the National Museums of Kenya in Kitale after meeting with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials.

‘’ We are asking politicians to ensure that they don’t spew hate during their campaigns. This will save us as a county and a country from the shackles of the 2007 post-election violence monster ‘’, said County Women Representative Janet Nangabo. She spoke alongside former Trans Nzoia County Senator Henry Tiole Ntiema, they condemned all forms of divisive politics that contribute to electoral violence and conflicts not only in the county but in the whole Country.

She said Trans Nzoia County had suffered from a history of violence that rendered residents into internally displaced persons (IDPs) during previous elections from 1992 to 2007.

She expressed concern over politicians using social media platforms as tools of aggravating tension, propaganda and incitement against perceived opponents. ‘’Those politicians using social media platforms to aggravate tension, hate and propaganda should give this county a break so that we remain a peaceful county’’, she said. She also asked the media to help promote the messages of peaceful elections through their daily news coverage on radio, Newspapers and TVs. She called on social media organisations to take appropriate actions against those inciting violence on their platforms.

Ms Nangabo asked the Communications Authority of Kenya CAK and the independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC to connect newly gazetted polling centres with 4G network coverage in order to avail proper communications services during voting day. Former Senator Ntiema called upon Trans Nzoia County residents to maintain peace during and after election campaigns. He also called on politicians to declare their willingness to work for peaceful elections devoid of incitement or hatred, and instead address any electoral dispute through nonviolent means.

Others who were present were three parliamentary aspirants for Saboti Constituency, David Wafula (DAP K), Joseph Khisa Pepela (Ford Kenya) Bernard Wambwa (UDA), Musoke Muliro (Senate, ODM), Sussan Murumba (WR aspirant Jubilee) and Lilian Chebet (UDA)

The Independent governorship Candidate Apostle Jimmy Nduruchi promised to reach out to all communities in the area and preach the need for each resident of Trans Nzoia to maintain peace during and after the election. ‘’ We must all commit ourselves to work for the achievement of peace which is the only prerequisite for development after the election. Any leader wishing to use his or her resources to promote hate should be rejected at the ballot’’, he said.

Others who were present were three parliamentary aspirants for Saboti Constituency, David Wafula (DAP K), Joseph Khisa Pepela (Ford Kenya) Bernard Wambwa (UDA), Musoke Muliro (Senate, ODM), Sussan Murumba (WR aspirant Jubilee) and Lilian Chebet (UDA). Trans Nzoia County assembly speaker Joshua Mutoto Werunga said there was a need for tolerance of divergent views during this electioneering period.

“Politicians and their supporters in Trans Nzoia should embrace peaceful coexistence, we must be tolerant of divergent views and avoid violence,” Werunga said.  “Let us engage in a civil manner before, during and after elections. Politicians should avoid intimidation and other retrogressive behaviour that puts others’ lives in danger,” he added.

Azimio governor aspirant George Natembeya through his personal assistant Emmanuel Wanjala asked politicians eying elective seats in the county to exercise restraint and embrace peaceful coexistence during these electioneering campaigns.

‘’ Many cases of violence are normally witnessed during the electioneering period due to careless statements made by politicians’’, he said. Supporters of politicians, he noted, engage in fights due to differences in opinions. He raised concern that previous trends of electioneering violence can be avoided through mature and peaceful campaigns.