The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) in conjunction with the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the national security and all leaders to embrace peace before, during and after the August election.
While addressing the media on Monday at Ufungamano House, KCCB chairman John Oballa said called upon all institutions and agencies with roles to play in the forthcoming election to be transparent in all the activities and processes they will be involved in.
He said Kenyans have the right to know what every institution is doing on their behalf through the enhancement of their strategic public communication.
“Transparency will also promote synergy of the engagement of different stakeholders. Kenyans have a right to know what every institution is doing on their behalf, and so all institutions must enhance their strategic public communications,” Oballa said.
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Oballa advised on a multi-sectoral dialogue approach when it comes to communication among the ministries, departments and agencies involved in the August general election.
“We advise the IEBC and the National Police Service to dialogue over the subject issue with dignity, national respect and public trust,” Oballa said.
On the back and forth between the IEBC and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Oballa said the security of the country and the elections are crucial and the two bodies must reach a solution promptly.
"It is in this regard that we have followed the accusations and counter-accusations between the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Security of the nation and the elections is very crucial, and should not be processed through the media," they said.
"We advise the IEBC and the National Police Service to dialogue over the subject issue with dignity, national respect and public trust. Church leaders are ready and available to mediate."
Oballa also urged all Kenyans to promote peace and national cohesion even as they exercise their democratic rights and shun any form of intolerance or violence.
"We must not destroy our country so that some people get into positions of power and I would like to insist that we as Kenyans should exercise our democratic rights to vote," Oballa urged.
NCCK Secretary-General Chris Kinyanjui revealed various religious leaders have held meetings to discuss how various institutions and agencies with roles to play in the August election should incorporate citizens.
“The nation is in a state where not only the leaders of various regions need to come together but also the citizens,” Kinyanjui said.
The message from the clerics comes only thirteen days to the August 9 general election.