Narok Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Kennedy Mwang’ome has urged Kenyans to uphold peace, foster national unity, and reject tribal politics to safeguard the country’s cohesion as the 2027 General Election approaches.
Speaking after chairing a Narok Central Sub-County Peace Committee meeting, Mr. Mwang’ome called on Kenyans to shun ethnic divisions and embrace peaceful coexistence, saying the country’s peace and stability should not be taken for granted.
He said Kenya remained peaceful and stable compared to some of its neighbours, many of whom continue to grapple with political instability and economic challenges.
“God has truly blessed Kenya. We have peace and stability, but sometimes we fail to appreciate these blessings. I humbly appeal to Kenyans to continue praying for our country,” he said.
The administrator cautioned political leaders against promoting ethnic divisions, warning that the resurgence of ethnic politics could undermine national cohesion as leaders intensify political engagements ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mr. Mwang’ome said leaders have a responsibility to promote national unity and avoid utterances or actions that could threaten peaceful coexistence among Kenya’s diverse communities.
“We will reject factional and ethnic-based politics, and we will not stand by to watch people divide our country and take our country down the wrong path,” he said.
Using Narok as an example, the Deputy County Commissioner said the devolved unit demonstrates that communities from different ethnic backgrounds can live and work together peacefully.
He urged leaders to protect the existing unity instead of exploiting ethnic differences for political purposes.
Mr. Mwang’ome warned against a return to politics that fuels ethnic animosity, recalling the violence that accompanied politically instigated divisions in the past.
He said political leaders should remain mindful of the country’s history and ensure that political competition does not come at the expense of national cohesion, peace, and stability.
According to the administrator, Kenyans have a collective responsibility to preserve the peace the country enjoys by rejecting messages and actions that could trigger conflict.
He also challenged leaders to inspire hope among citizens by pursuing policies that improve livelihoods, saying development should remain at the center of political engagement instead of divisive rhetoric.
He affirmed that every Kenyan has a responsibility to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, and tranquillity in the country.
An elder, Mzee Paul Naeku, similarly called on Kenyans to consider whether their actions contribute to the peace and unity of the country, noting that the younger generation is watching and learning from the actions of adults and leaders.
“If we destroy our country, where are we taking our children? If you destroy your country with your own hands, where will we raise our children? What will they get into?” Mzee Naeku posed.
He said the younger generation, which will eventually take over leadership of the country, must understand that patriotism should take precedence over personal ambitions.
“Our children, who will be taking over leadership after our generation, must understand that patriotism supersedes personal ambitions. The praises and accolades Kenya receives outside our borders must not be underrated. We must be vigilant to ensure our country remains a haven of peace,” he said.
Mzee Naeku urged Kenyans to be patriotic and protect the country’s security and borders to ensure that businesses and other economic activities continue to thrive in a peaceful environment.
“We must love our country; we must guard our security jealously because we know what is happening beyond our borders,” he said.
Echoing the call for peaceful politics, Elder Agnes Mathenge urged political leaders to uphold justice, respect democratic processes, and ensure that every Kenyan has an opportunity to participate freely in elections.
Ms. Mathenge called on leaders to focus on issues affecting wananchi and avoid actions that could divide communities, saying peaceful elections are essential to strengthening democracy and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
She said citizens must uphold peace and respect the rule of law because they can only enjoy their legal and constitutional rights in a country that exists and functions peacefully.
Ms. Mathenge reminded leaders that their power is derived from the people and stressed the importance of adhering to democratic principles. She urged leaders to exercise restraint, listen to citizens, and engage them constructively.
“I call for calm and for the leadership to show restraint and do the right thing by listening to the people and not being antagonistic to them. Violence on either side is not the answer,” she said.
She also called for dialogue and understanding, reiterating the need for leaders to engage in constructive conversations with citizens and resolve differences peacefully.
Mzee Kool Kasaine, another elder, said tolerance for divergent views was not only the responsibility of political leaders but also of every Kenyan, individually and collectively, regardless of political or ethnic differences.
“Where there are divergent views or opinions, our leaders should learn to seek civil ways to resolve the differences instead of using political platforms to utter negative utterances with undertones that may insinuate humiliation to any community,” he said.
Mr. Kool noted that although every Kenyan has a constitutional right to freedom of speech, the exercise of that freedom should not infringe on the rights of others.
He urged politicians to refrain from insults, particularly those directed at rivals and other leaders, saying anger should not be used to justify offensive or inflammatory language.
“Leaders are being reminded that political competition should not cross into abuse, and they should instead focus on addressing community needs like proper health care, an efficient education system, proper infrastructure, and functional security apparatus, among others. Political engagement should revolve around development agendas and mutual respect rather than personal, divisive attacks,” he said.
The elder called for national unity, peaceful coexistence, and issue-based politics, saying these would help foster development and reduce ethnic tensions.
Quoting Bible verses, Mzee Kool said it was good and pleasant when people lived together in unity, adding that unity brings benefits to society.
“Where there is unity, God commands a blessing. That is why we want all of us to unite and work together so that God will bless us,” he said.
He reiterated that national unity was important for Kenya and urged citizens and leaders to work together to protect the country’s peace and stability.
By Emily Kadzo
