Religious leaders in Mombasa under the umbrella of Mombasa Pastors Fellowship have called for peace and peaceful campaigns ahead of the August 9 elections.
Speaking during a peace and prayer rally in Mikindani, Jomvu sub-county on Sunday, the pastors urged residents to be wise and shun leaders hell-bent at inciting them.
The meeting brought together pastors, officers from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and security officers in Jomvu.
“We will continue praying for peace ahead of the elections. We want Kenya to remain united as we have been even after these elections,” said Geoffrey Mwongera, the presiding bishop of Word of Healing and Restoration International, Mikindani.
Lambert Mbella, the regional bishop redeemed gospel church northern coast region, asked Kenyans to approach the election with a sober mind and a clear conscious.
He said that the election is a one-day thing, and therefore life must go on after August 9.
“It is not a matter of life and death, there will always be more elections after this in this nation.”
“Let us have peace in our hearts knowing that even if someone loses this time, there is still another time, they will keep on trying until they win,” said Mbella.
He asked politicians to stop inciting the people saying that it will not convince people to vote for them, but it will only show that they are associated with hooliganism.
Mbella also cautioned the clergy on taking political sides saying that they should be wise and careful as he acknowledged that they also have a democratic right as enshrined in the constitution to do so.
He however said that, such a move should be driven by the interest of the Kingdom of God and the church.
“As churches, we also have our vested interests just like other people and politicians have so long us it is not about tribal groupings and ethnicity,” Mbella said.
He further said that they had not endorsed any leader for any seat saying that they were not going to take that collective move since everyone votes in secret.
“We cannot make a blanket declaration, however we advocate for interest of the church, and we believe our members who are also wise will be able to understand and know who to vote for,” he said.
The IEBC voter educator for Jomvu Flora Were hailed the move by the clergy saying that peace was paramount to their work.
She said that the commission needed a peaceful environment to be able to effectively carryout their mandate.
She further urged residents to arm themselves with their voting particulars and ensure that they confirm their details ahead of the polls.
Jomvu sub-county police commander Peter Maluki assured residents that they were well prepared to offer security during the electioneering period.
Maluki put on notice politicians intending to incite the people saying that they were alert and would deal with them according to the law.
“So far we haven’t identified any hot spot where we anticipate violence, the government has fully equipped us and we have received trainings in readiness for the elections,” said Maluki.
Maluki also refuted claims of biasness from officers accused of favoring a section of politicians saying that his officers were professional and not partisan as accused.
Last week, a section of politicians in the area accused the officers at Mikindani police station of favoring the current area MP and sweeping his wrongs under the carpet after his supporters accosted his opponents during an Azimio rally held at Bangladesh grounds last Wednesday.
“We have always been partial and non-partisan, as officers we don’t support anyone. Our duty is to ensure that Jomvu people are secured,” he said.
He said that they had arrested two individuals connected to the incident adding that investigations were going on and more will be arrested.
Maluki called for peace asking the politicians to practice decorum and avoid inciting the people.
“We are all brothers and sisters, let them compete fairly. Whoever wins, let him win.” He said.