AFRICA/KENYA - “Election results shall be accepted and let no one incite to violence”, religious leaders warn

Saturday, 5 August 2017 elections  


Nairobi (Agenzia Fides)- “Election results shall be accepted and no one shall incite his or her respective supporters to violent action to contest the vote”. This is the message addressed by the religious leaders of Kenya to politicians on the eve of general elections scheduled for August 8.
“Politicians must publicly commit themselves to accepting the results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) or appeal to the law if they are not satisfied with the results “ the religious leaders of Kenya write in the statement sent also to Fides.
“They have no right to incite their supporters to commit acts of violence against other Kenyans if the results are not in their favour” the religious leaders continue, describing such behaviour as “atrocious and evil political strategy”
The religious leader say their election observers gathered information regarding the organisation on the part of certain politicians of youth gangs told to start violence and make it look like spontaneous protests, and that they, the religious leaders, have informed the competent authorities on the matter.
The election campaign was overshadowed by the murder of Chris Msando, systems development manager of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC (see Fides 2/8/2017). According to press sources three people have been arrested in Uganda in connection with the murder of Msando and the young woman whose body was found next to his. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/8/2017)


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