Over 50 members of Crime Si Poa (CSP) youth networks in Nakuru County today joined 1200 Peace Ambassadors in the Rift Vallley leg for a walk to preach peace ahead of the August 8 general elections in Kenya.
The walk that was flagged off in Kakamega on the 10th of June by Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya, will culminate in a major peace rally at the Sarakasi Dome in Nairobi on the 28th June 2022 after 21 days traversing twelve counties in five major regions with the peace message. During the walk, the peace ambassadors engaged fellow Kenyans on the need to uphold peace before, during, and after the general election
The Nakuru leg of the walk which attracted large public goodwill was joined in Bahati Constituency by the local MP Hon Kimani Ngunjiri who implored the youth not to be manipulated by politicians during this electioneering period and encouraged them to continue advocating for peace.
According to Alvin Kisara, one of the CSP Nakuru County youth leaders, a clarion call during this peace walk is for the youth and the general public to shun crime, promote unity in diversity and accept divergent opinions, embrace oneness, and ensure peaceful and violence-free elections.
The peace walk aims at sensitizing communities on the need to avoid spaces where political players whip emotions and incite the public against one another for their own political mileage and self-gain.
“We are excited to take part in the peace walk at a time we have begun seeing youth engaging in politically instigated violence and other forms of crimes in Nakuru and Kenya at large. As Kenyan youth, this is the best time to rewrite the history of the violent elections through leading by example and ensuring we protect and peacefully guard the democratic space in our country,” said Alvin.
“Crime Si Poa youth have been doing groundwork in ensuring young people, engaging in the August General elections whether as voters, campaigners and or as aspirants do not cause violence. Instead, they will be actively involved in violence prevention and cohesion promotion,” concluded Alvin.
With the 2022 elections days away, a wind of political agitation is sweeping over the country causing tension and having adverse effects on national cohesion as well as the economy, something the peace walk hopes to mitigate.
The walk is organized by the Peace Ambassadors Integration Organization (PAMBIO) in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and Crime Si Poa.