Ida Odinga calls for peaceful campaigns

Mama Ida Odinga has challenged politicians to engage in peaceful campaigns as the clocks ticks towards the August 9 General Election.

Mrs Odinga, who spoke on Friday at an interdenominational prayer meeting in Siaya, also urged politicians to desist from misusing youths in their quest for leadership.

“Our youth are not mere accessories to your political aspirations and violence must stop,” Mrs Odinga said.

She also noted that the onset of the official campaign period has heightened violent political altercations at the grassroots level.

Mrs Odinga challenged politicians to instead seek employment and empowerment opportunities for the youth who are the most vulnerable in such incidents.

Mrs Odinga’s comments come a few weeks after pockets of protests and violent scenes were witnessed during in ODM and UDA party primaries in various parts of the country.

In a related development, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, while speaking in Nairobi on Thursday, assured Kenyans of their safety during the campaign season.

Dr Matiang’i also disclosed that 2,700 new vehicles had been acquired to assist in the movement of  administrative officers to various parts of the country to monitor the situation. He further called on Kenyans to be vigilant and increase their level of security consciousness.