By Gilbert Wandera

After the bungled 2007 general elections, a number of daily activities were affected as violence took toll in all parts of the country.

Sports was one of the worst affected activities and the United Nations in conjunction with several federations yesterday launched a peace initiative to avert a violence ahead of the March 4 General Elections.

Speakers at the launch urged politicians to have virtues that make sports attractive. Kenya Rugby Football Union (KFRU) vice chairman, Sasha Mutai, said the rugby fraternity still remembers the events of 2007 and would not want a repeat.

“When the violence started, our team was in the Wellingtone Sevens. The team decided to wear white bands indicating peace.

“All the players, despite their ethnic and political differences, made a decision to be united. League matches were disrupted because teams could not travel from Nakuru to Nairobi and some players who lived in slums were forced to move out due to the violence which affected training,” he said.

Sasha urged politicians to emulate sports where there is a winner and a loser.

“When we lose, we take it positively well aware that there is a next time. Politicians should do the same.”

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) CEO, Jack Oguda said: “At the height of the violence, some of the proceeds from gate collections in our league matches combined with donations from Fifa and SuperSport were handed over to the Kenya Red Cross to support internally displaced persons.

“We do not want a repeat of what happened and urge everyone to maintain peace during the elections.”

Football Kenya chairman, Sam Nyamweya, urged politicians to accept the results of the March 4 elections without violence.

Nasser Egamusa, the Director of United Nations Information Centre, said there is concern that the violence may recur and pointed out that the campaign of using sports to create awareness is one way of attempting to prevent the violence.

“After what happened in 2007, we did not think it could happen again. However, recently we have seen signs of the violence and have to take steps to stop it.

“We want to use sports to create awareness because it is one thing that cuts across,” he said.