A section of Lamu leaders have signed a political decency and peace charter aimed at ensuring that they maintain peace during their campaigns ahead of the August 9th polls.
Speaking to the media in Mokowe, Wednesday during a peace run initiative that brought together security agents, politicians, businessmen and youths based in the new county headquarters, Lamu County Commissioner Macharia Irungu called on politicians to adhere by the IEBC code of conduct rule book as they conduct their campaigns.
He further lauded the politicians who afforded their time and came to the peace run initiative, stating that it was sign of goodwill when politicians pledge to carry out their campaigns peacefully regardless of their political interest peacefully.
“For those politicians who came and participated in the 5 kilometre run across the Mokowe Township as well as signed the peace charter today, it is a honourable gesture that signals political maturity among the electorate,” he said.
The Political Decency and Peace Run Initiative which was hosted by members of the County Security Committee, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and the Special Olympics Kenya Committee was aimed at bringing political actors as well as the electorate together in a bid to advocate for peaceful elections.
Incumbent Hindi Ward MCA Anab Mohammed who attended the peace run stated that she would conduct her campaigns peacefully and vowed not to be the source of hate politics within her ward or Lamu.
Her political rival Amani National Congress candidate Yunus Is’akhia also pledged that he would carry out peaceful campaigns and urged Lamu youth not to be swayed by politicians who would like to use them to spread divisive politics.
“Youths need to be wary not to be used by politicians because if they get caught they will serve the sentences alone and no politician will risk his or her neck to save them,” he added.
Sentiments echoed by Lamu West MP aspirant and Usawa Kwa Wote Party candidate Josephat Musembi who stated that in his campaign manifesto social cohesive politics is a key reason as to why he gunning for the hotly contested Lamu West seat.
He said that his campaign would work towards building a social cohesive county regardless of one’s ethnic community or religious beliefs.
On his part, Lamu West Independent ticket candidate Kaviha Khamis stated that he remains committed to ensuring that his campaigns uphold peace even beyond the election period.
Lamu Police Commander Moses Muriithi who also spoke to the media during the event stated that security agents would remain vigilant even after the campaigns with a view of ensuring that election disputes are only handled through the courts.