Thursday’s media briefing was held by the government through the Office of the Government Speaker. It covered the management of peaceful elections in the country as well as other important national issues.
During the briefing with different government agencies, issues of peace were highlighted as a crucial component of the conduct of citizens prior to, during, and after the forthcoming general elections.
Col., Government Spokesperson was speaking at the Teleposta Towers Media Centre Nairobi. (Rtd.) Cyrus Oguna, a media representative, thanked the media’s collaboration with the government to achieve the same goal of satisfying the audience.
Oguna warned the public about the exciting moments ahead of the election, when the country is filled with excitement, anxiety, panic and tension, as well as violence.
He said that such outcomes are often experienced during electioneering periods due to incitement from leaders and, in some cases, the media.
“Nevertheless, the government has set up a multi-agency team to synergise and ensure a stable situation for peace to prevail,” he remarked, adding that this was in preparation and response to issues that may arise.
The Government Spokesperson insisted that Kenyans can run for any office within the republic. He urged citizens to reject hate speech and not be used by selfish politicians.
Oguna also called attention to the influence of social media and internet on participants. He urged citizens and media to respect freedom of expression and press freedom, as they are critical of any democratic process.
“As the government, we urge for calmness and sobriety as we campaign for civil and political rights. The youth in particular should shun hate speech and other forms of intolerance and avoid being used by politicians,” he reiterated, encouraging the electorate to call out on leaders who propagate hate speech.
Oguna said that the government had engaged with the National Police Service, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, political parties, observers and the media to increase its resolve to hold peaceful election. This will ensure that the country does not experience the same violence as in the past.
Bruno Shioso, NPS Spokesperson, stated that the organisation is a key participant in elections to provide a stable, safe and secure political environment.
Shioso stated, “The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission” (IEBC) has a huge task that requires stakeholders such as the NPS to make this election a success.
He explained that the police have prepared for the worst by training officers in various areas, such as software management, logistics, reinforcement options, and multi-agency support.
“We will continue collaborating with all the stakeholders in a harmonious and progressive manner to ensure a successful election devoid of hate speech, fake news, intimidation, and violence,” he emphasized, adding that the few noticeable cases touching on female candidates will not be tolerated.
Shioso appealed to all actors, candidates, parties, and political parties, pledging that the law would be applied impartially to anyone who incites or threatens violence against political parties.
He encouraged the public to report suspicious activity to the police using the Toll Free Numbers 911, 112, or 0800722203 to get prompt response. He assured them that there are very few instances of violence in the country and that the NPS is committed to protecting the safety of citizens.
Meanwhile, Oguna commented on the government’s ongoing interventions to cushion the 23 Counties and other pockets such as Nyatike and Kieni in Migori and Nyeri respectively, impacted as a result of drought through physical food distribution and cash transfers.
According to the government spokesperson, this hybrid system developed will run side by side until things improve, which underscores the President’s promise that no Kenyan will die of hunger again.
“The government has so far spent Sh1.2 billion to cushion 2.8 million people facing food distress, where the cash transfers specifically target the most vulnerable from the grassroots level,” he maintained.
The spokesperson for the government also appealed directly to the media to educate the public about the importance of vaccination following the lifting of restrictions and containment actions that have seen vaccinated populations drop significantly.
By Michael Omondi, Audrey Cherotich
Source: kenyanews
