Siaya politician Dan Omoro has urged Kenyans to reject politicians who promote violence and intimidation during campaigns, saying political competition should be based on ideas and policies.
Omoro, who has expressed interest in contesting the Alego/Usonga parliamentary seat in next year’s General Election, said the country had no place for political intolerance and urged Kenyans to allow aspirants to campaign freely across the country.
He was speaking at Rasugu Village in Siaya West Sub-County during the burial of his nephew.
Omoro said it was unacceptable for some leaders to preach democracy while denying their perceived opponents an opportunity to freely present their manifestos and policies to voters.
“The politics we would like to see here in Alego Usonga, and the whole country really, should be politics based on issues, not politics based on coercion and violence,” he said.
He urged Siaya residents to accommodate divergent political views and allow aspirants to explain their ideas without fear of intimidation.
Omoro warned against hostility towards supporters of different political parties or candidates, saying the exchange of diverse views was essential in identifying policies that would benefit Alego/Usonga Constituency.
He also appealed to young people not to allow politicians to use them to cause violence during campaigns.
Omoro observed that political competitors often maintain cordial relationships despite their political differences, while their supporters sometimes engage in unnecessary confrontations.
“As leaders, the youth have never seen us fight. I will meet my competitor anywhere, and we will not fight among ourselves,” he said.
He added: “The youth should not allow themselves to be used by politicians to fight among themselves.”
Omoro said peaceful political competition would enable candidates to focus on issues affecting residents rather than creating divisions.
He pledged to conduct a peaceful and issue-based campaign centered on addressing the socio-economic needs of residents of Alego/Usonga.
By Philip Onyango
