As the by-elections in the Kasipul constituency draw closer, religious leaders in Homa Bay County have told candidates to avoid using goons to cause violence during campaigns.
The religious leaders who held a meeting with Homa Bay County Commissioner, Ronald Mwiwawi, today expressed concerns over the level of violence which was witnessed in Kasipul Constituency.
This follows an incident in which two young men were killed last week at Opondo village in Central Kasipul during a confrontation between supporters of ODM candidate Boyd Were and those of his rival Philip Aroko.
Mwiwawi said investigations into the incident were at an advanced stage and the culprits will soon be apprehended.
He told aspirants and their supporters to maintain peace and respect the sanctity of human life.
“We will take stern measures against perpetrators of violence during campaigns; they will face the full force of the law.” Mwiwawi said.
The Chairman of the Interfaith Council of Homa Bay County, Abrahams Odongo, said it is wrong for the politicians to use the youth in causing violence in Kasipul.
Odongo condemned candidates who engage youth to cause violence in the constituency.
“As religious leaders, we are telling aspirants in Kasipul to stop using goons. I urge them to engage the youth constructively.” Bishop Odongo said.
He added that violence was causing grief to families unnecessarily. He said it was regrettable that children were becoming orphans because of politics.
“We don’t want women to become widows or children to be orphaned because of politics. Only one person will become the MP for Kasipul,” Odongo said.
The Secretary of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Abdul Masud, also told politicians to embrace peace in their campaigns.
He noted that it is only when peace prevails that residents will engage in economic activities and improve their standards of living.
“We are calling on politicians to preach peace in their campaigns. There is nothing good we can achieve in Kasipul without peace,” Masud said.
By Davis Langat
