Why civic education recall clause is critical

As we gear towards the August 8 General Election, it is likely that Kenyans will be in a hurry to send home non-performing Members of Parliament and other office-bearers deemed incompetent.

However, five years is a long time for citizens to wait before they can exercise their right to demand effective service delivery and accountability from elected leaders.

Sections 45 to 48 of the Elections Act provide for the grounds and procedure to recall an MP. I have read some articles about attempts by MPs to abolish this section.

They are aware this is tantamount to putting power into the hands of citizens. Two years is enough for the electorate to observe and determine whether they are getting value from their electoral choices or not. Let us, therefore, use the civic education to provide citizens with accurate education about the ‘Recall Clause’. Nashon Tado, Nairobi

 Let us appreciate our cultural diversity

The Government should consider introducing culture studies in higher learning institutions to foster coexistence. It will help us appreciate our diversity.

It should be made compulsory because university students are at the peak of entering the job market where they are bound to interact with people from different cultures.

This will help reduce incidents such as the one witnessed at a primary school in Samburu County that left the institution closed after a group of Class Six boys attacked and injured teachers.

Some of the conflicts we experience at work can be managed if only we are taken through the culture of other communities and show the willingness to learn so that when we land in the new environment, we do not develop problems with the locals.

We need to appreciate the culture of others and understand that no culture is superior than others. By so doing, we in one way or the other, likely to escape difficulty with the people we interact with. Every member of a given community values their culture and it feels bad when others happen to degrade or look down upon their culture. Joseph Macharia, Maasai Mara University

Use youth as instruments to foster peace

In most elections that turn chaotic, fingers are often pointed at the youths. This is regardless of the fact that some youths are actively involved in the peace building process before and during election.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) seem to most often than not, run a one-man’s show which clearly has not been very effective considering the fact that most electoral campaigns are still marred by chaos and no stringent measures have been taken so far to curb this menace.

Although it is true that majority of the youths are used by politicians to participate in politically instigated violence especially during the campaign period, very little have been done by the relevant authorities to stop this.

The youths, being the pillars of the nation, need to be educated on the importance of upholding peace before, during and after elections. It is high time for youths to take up responsibility of protecting Kenya by saying no to all politically instigated violence.

Joblessness should not be a reason to be used by youths to cause chaos. There are many opportunities in life which only calls for youths to think out of the box to grab these opportunities.

Youths should not fall pray of manipulation by politicians and the little incentives they give to them and use them to cause violence.

Instead let’s stand up and protect our country by serving as watchdogs for the community as far as development is concerned.

By upholding peace, it is we who benefit more. A peaceful country attracts investors who create jobs that the youths have been longing for. Let us not easily be carried away by some of the unrealistic promises that our politicians are quick to make in their manifestos.

Let us ask the hard questions and put our leaders to account. If NCIC is to ensure peace in the upcoming August election, they should use the same youths that are being used to propagate violence and hate speech especially on social media to preach peace. Millicent Mukhongo, Nakuru