The national Alliance of registered churches in Kenya has urged the electoral agency IEBC through its chairman Wafula Chebukati to ensure adequate peace is attained in areas where elections were not done before conducting the repeat polls.
The Thursday’s repeat presidential polls that so NASA leader Raila Odinga boycotts them were not done in five counties due to chaos and protests.
Lead by the alliance’s chairman Bishop Samuel Welimo who said that it will be suicidal for IEBC to force repeat presidential polls in those areas before calm is fully restored.
He said that carrying the polls on will be endangering the lives of IEBC staffs and residents.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati was forced to postpone the polls that were to be held on Saturday after calls from religious leaders from the affected areas.
Addressing residents in a church function in Butere over the weekend Welimo said that it will only be wise if the areas experiencing demos are left and not forced to participate in the polls for the sake of peace.
The clergy said that it’s the constitutional right of every Kenyan to engage in peaceful demos as long as it does not lead to destruction of properties looting and loss of lives.
‘For the sake of peace healing and reconciliation of the nation I would like to advice president Uhuru Kenyatta after being sworn in to reach out to the opposition areas when appointing his cabinet secretary and other state officers,’ he said.
He said that the low voter turnout on the Thursday repeat polls was caused by the many threats that had been issued by NASA leaders to voters.
Most of the voters had of the demos that had been called by NASA on that day and opted to keep off for fear of possible attacks.
He asked police not to use live bullets while dispersing protesters and also warned protesters from provoking police by hurling stones at them.
He asked NASA leaders to ensure they help restore calm in their areas.
Welimo also asked religious leaders to pray for the country that peace may prevail and Kenyans may live together in peace and harmony despite their tribal and political affiliations.
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