Garissa Kenya, June 22, 2017: Act! in partnership with Garissa County Administration and the Uwiano Platform for Peace led hundreds of residents in Garissa town in a peace walk in support of peaceful elections.
Garissa County is among the 33 Counties that have been identified by the National Cohesion and Integrity Commission as possible hotspots for electoral related violence.
While flagging of the caravan in Garissa town, the County Commisioner Mr. James Kianda, warned youth against being used by politicians to cause chaos during the campaign period.
“You are the future of Kenya and therefore you must desist from any acts of violence,” said the County Commissioner.
The peace caravan which is part of Act!’s wider approach in promoting peaceful and credible elections, sought to encourage communities to maintain peace during the upcoming general elections.
Act!’s County Program Officer Kaltuma Abdirahman called on the locals to spread messages of peace and unity among the communities.
“Garissa County is a cosmopolitan region, let us encourage everybody to embrace peace ahead of the elections”, said Kaltuma.
The County Commissioner James Kianda assured residents that his office had put in place proper security measures to prevent potential electoral violence.
He urged the public to be on the lookout and report those they perceive to be out to compromise their security during the campaigns.
Through the Electoral Conflict and Violence Mitigation Program, Act! is engaging various community structures who include County Administration, IEBC, peace committees, CSOs working on peace among other actors to map-out and device effective strategies to prevent and respond to electoral related conflict
