APs in drive to avert poll violence

By Edwin Cheserek

Administrative Police officers in Uasin Gishu County have launched a peace initiative in North Rift hotspots ahead of the General Election.

The officers formed a peace movement with Christian messages to integrate communities living in areas affected by the post-election chaos.

Yesterday, 20 officers from the Administration Police Evangelistic team pitched tent at the volatile Burnt Forest town to preach peace.

During the crusade, they, together with the Intercommunity Peace Choir, advised locals to ensure peace prevails in the run up to next elections.

“We intend to spread messages of peace and cohesion. But we cannot achieve this if we do not change how people perceive us,” said Eldoret East deputy AP Commandant Fred Abuga.

The Northern corridor includes towns located along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway that bore the brunt ofthe 2007/08 post-poll violence.

More than 1,000 people lost their lives and hundreds others displaced from the their homes following the disputed presidential election.

Mr Abuga said officers intended to stamp out divisive politics and ethnicity that had in the past fueled tension in the township.

“We want to exhaust all available avenues to ensure our people co-exist peacefully regardless of their tribes,” he said.

PUT GUNS ASIDE

The APs put their guns aside and armed themselves with their Bibles as they went about their peace-preaching mission.

The choir, comprised of more than 55 members from different tribes, vowed to implement the initiative to the latter.

“There is a negative perception that has been synonymous with the town during every election. We want to involve the officers as we reach out to the local community to spread the importance of peace,” said the choir’s secretary general John Ndiema.

The officers have visited Turbo, Huruma, Langas, Cheptiret and have rolled out plans to visit parts of Nandi and Elgeyo/Marakwet counties.