The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) focus is to ensure that Kenyans embrace peace, social cohesion and integration during the electioneering period.
According to the NCIC Chairman Dr. Rev. Samuel Kobia’s the plan is to transform the culture of violence during electioneering period to peace.
The Chairman who said the Commission is seriously monitoring politicians especially those involved in hate speech and ethnic contempt causing disunity in Nairobi and other parts of the country.
“We have 16 months away to the 2022 general elections but the campaigns have started and that this why we are keen to monitor hate speech,” he said.
He at the same time noted that NCIC in December last year, launched a roadmap that will ensure the country achieve a violence free 2022 general elections in the country and that members of the public do not engage in acts of violence.
The road map states that the Commission shall strive to eliminate hate speech and incitement to violence, fake news and misinformation that accentuate the prevailing negative cultural and ethnic differences.
It also advocates that there is need for the whole society including women, youths, men and children be adequately empowered to play their optimal role as active agents of peace, saying that it is on this basis that NCIC seeks to improve the capacity of the communities to resist manipulation and shun perpetration of violence.
The Chairman was speaking on Wednesday during the launch of the Urban Safety Governance Approach (USGA) Report for Nairobi City whose implementation is expected to make Nairobi a safe and secure region at an event held in Nairobi.
He said the Urban Safety governance Approach programme being undertaken by the government in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN-Habitat that has selected Nairobi as a pilot project in Africa in a bid to make it a safe and secure region is a great honour to the country.
Dr. Kobia said the Commission will work with Nairobi County Commissioner’s office to increase the corporation in supporting the launched which advocates for a safe nation and peace.
“We commend UNODC, UN-Habitat and the International donor partners and civil societies for being mindful of the safety of Nairobi city, and assure that NCIC will engage you in this initiative report in every step so that all the cities in the country are safe,” he added.
The Chairman said the pilot project in Nairobi will show its gains to the rest of Africa, adding that the city could be the model where the rest of Africa will look up to.
He further announced that the NCIC peace programme will start in Nairobi and later proceed to Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru, noting that urban safety is crucial as it will address institutional, social and political issues.