State House Head of Special Programmes and Creative Economy Coordination Dennis Itumbi has called on political leaders to embrace peaceful competition and focus on presenting a development agenda to Kenyans instead of engaging in violence and destruction of property.
Speaking to journalists at Kimunye ACK Church in Kirinyaga County, Itumbi said leaders should allow Kenyans to judge them based on their manifesto and solutions to challenges affecting their communities.
Itumbi urged Manyatta Member of Parliament (MP), John Mukunji, to discourage political violence among young people, saying the country’s young leaders have a responsibility to promote mature and issue-based politics.
“I urge my friend John Mukunji because he is my friend and I speak to him. Please, you are a young man with a great future. Please do not mobilise for political violence. We must reach a point where every idea is put on the table and let the people decide,” said Itumbi.
He said political competition is healthy in a democratic society, and leaders should be allowed to hold different opinions, including on whether the current Administration should serve one or two terms.
“It is okay for people to differ; whether you support two terms or one term, it is okay to differ. What is not okay is to resort to violence over those differences. Without competition, there is no politics, because politics by its very nature is competition,” he said.
The Head of Special Programmes said leaders should instead compete by presenting practical solutions and alternative development plans in key sectors such as infrastructure and healthcare.
“If you see a road being built and you feel it is not done well, show us your alternative design. If you see healthcare issues, show us your plan to improve hospitals so that people do not suffer. Then let the people decide through the vote. Let us compete on ideas,” he said.
Itumbi said political leaders should use public forums to explain their development agendas and allow citizens to make informed decisions rather than inciting supporters against those holding opposing views.
He condemned the violence witnessed in Embu, including the burning of vehicles, saying political differences should never lead to the destruction of livelihoods and property.
Itumbi particularly condemned the burning of a journalist’s vehicle, saying journalists and other citizens work hard to build their livelihoods and should not become victims of political violence.
“You need to understand the struggle of a correspondent because I have been a correspondent myself. A correspondent buying a car and then you burn it, you are not only burning a car, which is metal, but you have also burnt their sweat, their aspiration, and their dream,” he said.
He added that he would support any fundraising initiative aimed at helping the affected journalist acquire another vehicle.
“In fact, I have said if that journalist organizes a fundraising, I will be there to ensure that he buys another car because we cannot allow politics to get to this madness,” he said.
Itumbi said politicians would come and go, but communities would remain, stressing that leaders have a duty to promote unity, peace and development.
He praised Kirinyaga residents for what he described as political tolerance and maturity, saying the County had demonstrated that people could hold different political views while remaining focused on the development and future of their community.
“Let us compete on ideas. Let us tell the people what we can do differently and allow them to decide,” he said.
By David Wandeto
