Kalonzo says General Election will be peaceful

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Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka addresses Seventh Day Adventist church (SDA) faithful during centennial celebrations at the Gusii Stadium, Kisii August 25, 2012. He told Kenyans to prepare for a peaceful General Election slated for March next year.  VPPS

By JACKLINE MORAA      
Posted  Saturday, August 25  2012 at  13:29

IN SUMMARY

• Mr Musyoka vows that never again will the country experience political violence because of selfish leaders.
• VP: Communities should live in harmony and party affiliation should not breed hatred.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has told Kenyans to prepare for a peaceful General Election slated for March next year.

Speaking in Kisii, Mr Musyoka assured that the free and fair polls will be contested in peaceful atmosphere.

"There is no other alternative, the next elections must be peaceful, free and fair. I call upon all Kenyans to embrace peace as we prepare for the next polls," he said when addressing faithful of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Gusii stadium Saturday during celebrations to mark 100 years of the church in Gusii and Transmara.

The VP praised the clergy and all Christians across the country for their role in drumming up peace in Kenya.

"The Church has played a key role in ensuring that our country has peace. It has also championed a fraternal existence,” he said.

Mr Musyoka vowed that never again will the country experience political violence because of selfish leaders.

"Our people lost lives and properties during the post-election violence because of political contests and we do not want to witness such things again," he said.

"I want to assure Kenyans that never again will people kill and maim each other for political reasons. There will be no bloodshed in this country because of elections."

The 2007/2008 post election violence that arose from a disputed presidential election left 1,133 people died and 650,000 displaced.

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Breed hatred

Mr Musyoka urged communities to live in harmony saying party affiliation should not breed hatred.

Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri urged the Church to pray for the country so that the next polls are peaceful.

Prof Ongeri, who is seeking the Senate seat in Kisii County, avoided politics during the function saying that he respects the Church.

"I am an SDA faithful and respect church doctrines. We will speak politics at the right platform when the time comes,” said Prof Ongeri.

Working nation

On Friday, the VP promised to improve the economy by creating a 24-hour system if elected president.

Speaking at Musa Nyandusi stadium in Nyaribari Chache constituency, Mr Musyoka said that his government will create more jobs to the youth through light industries in all the counties.

He said the old people will work during the day and the youth during the night.

“We must be a working nation to achieve vision 2030,’ he said.

"Kenya’s economy has the potential to grow if we make use of the resources that we have," he said.

The Mwingi North MP said that his opponents have mistaken his humility for weakness.

"It doesn’t mean that when I champion peace my opponents should sit on me and insult me. I am not a coward," he charged.

Mr Musyoka said he bore no personal vendetta against any presidential aspirant and called for mutual respect.

"If I don’t agree with my opponent’s party policies, it does not mean that he is an enemy," said the VP.

Mr Musyoka was accompanied by former MPs Geoffrey Masanya, Okioma Omwacha and Omingo Magara.