The business community at the Coast is calling for peaceful electioneering as the country heads towards the 2022 general elections.
For the last two years, businesses in the country have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, there has been a steady recovery since President Uhuru Kenyatta lifted some of the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the disease.
On Saturday, during the seventh annual Mombasa Business Award organised by Kenyan National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mombasa chapter, the business community raised concerns over rising political temperatures.
The awards, which did not happen last year because of Covid-19 pandemic, recognised 24 companies that reacted quickly and well to the pandemic to survive and indeed thrive.
James Mureu, a board member of KNCCI national office, said they are concerned that Kenyan politicians have not relented in their campaigns since the 2017 general election.
“Let us be careful that we do not tear the gains we have made in the last few months. They (politicians) must carry out the campaigns in a careful manner and allow the businesses to thrive without any kind of disruption,” Mureu said.
He said Covid-19 has ravaged the country, but Kenyans are resilient people.
“I submit that Kenyans are very resilient and are rising again from the ashes” he said.
KNNCI Mombasa chapter chairperson Mustafa Ramadhan urged politicians to put the country first as they carry out their campaigns.
“They should refrain from creating unnecessary tension or commotions that would affect the businesses that are slowly recovering from the Covid-19-19 pandemic,” Ramadhan said.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho who was the chief guest during the seventh Mombasa Business Award at Jumeirah Beach Front Hotel, said it is unfortunate that Kenyan campaigns have been designed to start early.
“They have created a system where campaigns are forced to start very early. I think what politicians are doing is being responsive because every other person has hit the ground running,” Joho said.
The governor, who is serving his second term in office, encouraged the political class to be moderate in their campaigns.
“One thing that I will encourage, because it now seems as if it is unstoppable (to stop early campaigns), let us consider that we still have a country to live in and to run. We must encourage a peaceful process and tolerance is very critical,” he said.
Joho said politics is not enmity.
“We should not look at politics as enmity, but as competition. Therefore, we should not in any way bring squabbles that will ruin the economy of our country,” the governor added.
Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir said Kenya has matured in its democracy, therefore Kenyans should not be worried of violence in next year’s elections.
“Kenya has matured in its democracy, I don’t see us going back to political days of violence. That is something that is totally behind us,” Nassir said.
-Edited by SKanyara
