The National Council of Churches of Kenya, Central region, have called on President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and their allies to tone down on their harsh remarks.
They said the harsh words may polarise the country and therefore not good for peace.
In a statement read on their behalf by the Nyeri coordinating committee chairman Simon Mbugua, the clerics said the differences are personal and that they can only seek ways of bringing the two leaders together.
He said the church has, in the past, tried to bring them together but failed.
They called on Kenyans to tolerate each other and uphold peace despite their political differences, adding that their preference for certain candidates should be expressed on the ballot.
They said it should not be demonstrated through hate speech, disruption of opponents meetings or violence.
NCCK urged the youth to remain sober and oppose any attempt to be manipulated by politicians and their supporters to join illegal gangs.
They warned them against selling themselves for cheap short term incentives despite the hard economic conditions.
The clerics urged them to instead ask the politicians how they intend to lower the cost of living, create employment and support their enterprises.
The men of the cloth advised the youth to use their numbers to come up with manifestos containing demands that politicians should prove they can fulfil in exchange for their votes.
They pledged to pray for the country to remain peaceful before, during and after the elections.
They said they will use their worship places to mobilise their followers to turn out in large numbers and vote for their preferred candidates.
“We’ll undertake civic education among our congregants, volunteer to be monitors in the electoral process, undertake mediation where there could be divisions, vet those to be entrusted with the pulpit to prevent polarisation of our congregants,” they said on Wednesday.
They also promised to work with other players to undertake initiatives that will ensure peaceful, credible and cohesive elections.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
