Students drawn from university Christian groups have launched a peace drive in areas affected by 2007/08 post-election violence in North Rift.
The initiative, which is led by students mainly from Moi University, is aimed at forging peace among communities living in the region ahead of campaigns for various seats in next year’s elections.
“We the youth are the ones who were used to fuel the violence and that is why we want to be at the forefront to promote peace this time round,” said Sammy Mutai, the university’s Christian Union chairman.
Mr Mutai said everything must be done to avoid a repeat of the violence witnessed after the 2007 elections, and urged politicians to avoid using hate speeches in their rallies.
Inciting communities
He accused some politician of not doing enough to preach peace and educate their supporters on the need to observe peace during the campaigns.
“How do they expect us to live together while they keep on inciting their communities against each other during their campaigns,” he posed.
The students launched the initiative dubbed ‘I am a Peace Maker’ on Saturday at Langas Estate in Eldoret, one of the 2007/2008 post-elections violence hotspots.
Moi University Chaplain Rev Ariko Ekitala said the students came up with the initiative to unite communities in the region.
Peace Work Chairlady Pauline Kachinja appealed to all communities that were affected by the post election violence to forget the past and instead preach peace.
By Peter Ochieng, STANDARDMEDIA.
