Countrywide visits

I have traversed the country in the last four months on account of the Land Development and Governance Institute's land, peace and elections national initiative. I have very happy memories from all the places we visited. We met leaders from:-

1. The Provincial administration
2. Government Ministries
3. Peace committees
4. Religious groups
5. Academic Institutions
6. Conservation groups
7. Justice and peace groups
8. Youth groups
9. Women groups
10. Human rights groups
11. SACCOs
12. Child rights groups
13. Associations for Physically Disabled Persons
14. Cultural organizations
15. Chambers of commerce
16. Professional associations
17. Boda boda and Tuk Tuk associations
18. Farmers groups
19. Pastoralist groups
20. Fisher folk groups
21. CBOs/CSOs

Commitments to maintain peace

In all forums, these leaders had a unanimous message.......that they want a peaceful election this time round. They went out of their way say so and to talk to each other and commit to policing and maintaining peace in their respective jurisdictions. They were absolutely believable.....their verbal and body language.

I thank them all and appeal that we maintain our commitments as peace ambassadors from all the regions.......Nyanza, Western, Coast, Lower Eastern, Upper Eastern, South Rift Valley, Central Rift and others.......that we went to as we go into voting on Monday and after. Let us continuously exalt our respective constituencies, friends and families to maintain peace as we vote and after.

The world is watching Kenya. But besides, we owe it to ourselves. We need to enjoy peace always....as we raise our children, as we travel, as we learn, as we do our private businesses and in our work places everywhere. No aspect of our national life progresses well without peace.

Let us maintain peace during and after voting

And let us thank God for democracy. It helps us to periodically choose our leaders individually and collectively. It gives each one of us leeway to interrogate individuals, parties and their policies then make independent choices. We need to nurture and sustain this freedom. Let us therefore all be up early on Monday to vote in our next group of leaders. Let us support those who win. Where there are any process issues, let us use due process to resolve. Let no Kenyan raise voice or weapon against another due to divergence of political persuasions.That is not the essence of democracy.

Let's do this for ourselves and for posterity. May God help us through this.