• NCIC Commissioner Sam Kona said the recent remarks by different politicians on vote-rigging is inappropriate.
• They said the messages have different effects on the electorate on the ground.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has cautioned politicians against deceitful comments on the electoral process. https://bit.ly/3CU955H
Image: faith matete
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has cautioned politicians against deceitful comments on the electoral process.
NCIC Commissioner Sam Kona said the recent remarks by different politicians on vote-rigging risk jeopardizing the political stability of the country.
Kona noted that the message affects the feelings of the electorate on the ground.
He said the impact of such remarks is already being felt on the ground.
He noted that the matter is likely to cause voter apathy as some of the voters are already contemplating boycotting the polls.
"This is very bad for our democracy. There are citizens who will not be able to vote because they think voting does not count," the commissioner said.
"We would like the political class to desist from misleading wananchi, particularly on this question of some politicians saying that they have the capability to steal elections or alluding that they have done so".
Kona further urged politicians not to play with some sensitive issues like the integrity of the electoral process.
"Claiming to have stolen elections or know how to steal elections in our view is even more dangerous than hate speech itself".
He underscored the fact that there is no culture, religion or society that glorifies theft of anything including elections.
"We should not glorify such things," he said.
Kona spoke in Sondu on Friday during county engagements - Kisumu and Kericho counties - and police empowerment for purposes of delivering a peaceful election.
The commission has been in the area for one week for the purpose of engaging various groups and communities in dialogue.
In January this year, they did an analysis of counties that are likely or might experience election-related violence from Nandi, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisii and all the way to Kisumu.
These areas exhibited many factors that indicate that they could be potential areas.
Such factors included Emergence or existing Criminal gangs, multi-ethnic groups, existing border issues and grievances.
"Today we met officers from Kisumu and Kericho in a consultation meeting basically to go through with them what it means to deliver security during elections and also provide information of areas likely to be a hotspot."
The commission has also had peace caravans moving around markets to preach peaceful coexistence ahead of polls.