Cohesion agency urges Kenyans to back peace drive

NCIC CEO Skitter Ocharo (left) speaks with the Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, during a past meeting. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) wants Kenyans to play an active role towards peace as the country moves closer to the August 9 General Election.

NCIC CEO Skitter Ocharo called on Kenyans to come out in large numbers to vote, saying Kenya is one of the leading democracies in Africa.

Speaking during the launch of the National Peace Mediation Team in Nairobi yesterday, Dr Ocharo said the commission was working towards enhancing trust between Kenyans and constitutional agencies.

“The commission is working with various stakeholders to ensure Kenyans trust various constitutional agencies tasked with conducting the electoral exercise and the peaceful handing over of power,” she said.

Dr Ocharo (pictured) said NCIC, through the ‘Election Bila Noma’ drive, is conducting peace-building activities in various parts of the country through engaging communities to sustain peace, especially in cases where they have been involved in conflict leading to loss of lives and property.

The commission is promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across the country and is discouraging unnecessary litigation which end up not only denying justice to citizens but delaying its delivery.

Unnecessary litigation, it says, eventually defeats the purpose of seeking justice.

Inter-Religious Council of Kenya members who attended the forum said the clergy were shepherds of the flock and the General Election is a journey travelled by Kenyans and their role was to provide prayers and guidance to citizens to make good choices on August 9.

Christians and Muslims in attendance said they were engaging political leaders and Kenyans from all walks of life to ensure they support the conduct of a free, fair, secure and credible electoral process.

Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson ole Sapit was named the chairman of the National Peace Mediation Team which will include a team of eminent persons from the various sectors of the society.

The event was attended by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati among other stakeholders who later held a closed-door session.