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Kenya’s National Cohesion and
Integration
Commission chairman Mzalendo
Kibunjia
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The cohesion watchdog has urged political
parties to include peace building in their manifestos.
National Cohesion and Integration
Commission (NCIC) chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia further told parties to ensure
peace prevails during the next General Election.
Speaking when he presided over a
fundraising dinner for the National Vision Party (NVP) at the Panafric Hotel in
Nairobi on Wednesday night, Dr Kibunjia said: “I am hoping one of the chapters
on political parties manifestos will have a chapter on peace and security ahead
of the elections.”
"We should break the jinx of
violence every election year since 1992 by providing an environment of peace.
Political parties, institutions and Kenyans at large must ensure the
environment is safe. NVP please also help us deliver a correct environment for
free and fair elections,” Dr Kibunjia said.
Accompanied by NVP party leader
Nicholas Biwott and vice-chairperson Benta Akinyi Opande, Dr Kibunjia praised
the party its national outlook.
“This is what I am supposed to be
looking for in all institutions whether government, private or political party.
NVP should be congratulated for its national outlook,” Dr Kibunjia said.
Defend move
He also defended his move to officiate
at a political party affair yet he leads a public institution for all Kenyans.
“Some are also asking why I came to
speak in a party affair. I was delighted when I was invited by honourable
Biwott because the future of this country do not belong to individuals but
political parties which we accepted by entrenching it in constitution. The era
of one man deciding or one woman deciding is long gone. We must revamp and
support parties,” Dr Kibunjia said.
Dr Kibunjia called for proper
preparation of the next elections in terms of logistics including voter
registration.
“If the environment is poisoned or
insecure the electoral body will not deliver,” he said.
Dr Kibunjia said the polls in which
six seats will be contested including the presidency, will be the largest in
Africa.
"Imagine each of the seats
attracting 10 candidates as is with the presidency, 60 politicians will be
running around the country trying to be different from each other. This is why
parties should not incite Kenyans. They should avoid racism, ethnicity and
regionalism,” Dr Kibunjia said, adding that NCIC will be extra vigilant.
He said the issues being championed by
groups like Mombasa Republic Council (MRC ) over land and bad roads, which are
blamed on the central government will be addressed by devolution “as government
is coming to a town near you".
He said dominant communities should
share seats with minorities at county governments for inclusivity and peace.
Saying fundraising dinners are allowed
by the Political Parties Act, Mr Biwott said his party stands for rule of law,
national cohesion, peace, justice and equality, respect of all rights and
liberties that are clearly enshrined in the Constitution.
Mr Biwott said NVP shares values advocated
by NCIC, a thing , he said should be supported by all peace loving Kenyans for
development.
Ms Opande attributed inequality in
distribution of resources to emergency of outlawed groups like MRC.
“If we get equality right,
the country will speak with one voice. Check for example, Nyanza is biggest
producer of fish but that is not where the largest fish factory is. That is why
some people say Pwani si Kenya (Coast is not Kenya),” Ms Opande said.
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