Kibera Pre-Election Conference

Youth Kibra are demanding that all political aspirants should sign the election code of conduct which requires them to carry out peaceful campaigns. In a pre- election conference attended by four MP aspirants in Kibra constituency, the youth claimed that politicians take advantage of their joblessness by giving them money in exchange for blocking other aspirants from specific villages in kibera.  Politicians are the ones that have the power to instruct their groups to either remain peaceful or cause chaos, let them show their commitment to peace by signing the election code of conduct,” said Nancy Moraa, a 27 year old person with disability living in Kibera.

The conference which was organised by the “Action Inter-Ethnic Youth Peaceful and Reconciliation Project” was meant to give a platform for the youth living in Kibera to share their concerns on the oncoming general elections specifically on threats to peace and suggest how these threats could be eliminated. It was attended by a representative of the district peace committee, Kibra constituency National Assembly aspirants, The Standard Group, Radio Africa, Royal Media Group, Seeds of peace Africa and Amani Kibera Initiative and youth from Kibera.

Among the threats the youth identified are political youth groupings, politicians giving out money ranging from 50 to 1000 shillings, joblessness, interparty intolerance and increase of guns in Kibera. “Four weeks ago, a woman’s house was almost burnt because she did not support an aspirant from her own community. We allow ourselves to become too attached to political parties to the extent that we can kill people just because they are wearing a T-shirt belonging to a party that we do not support,” remarked Caroline. “Our children carrying guns, our very own sons are stealing from the women selling on the streets,” added Khadija.

Fredrick Amayo, Sigar James, Ndura Waruingi and Taib Noordine who are among the six Kibra aspirants for the Nationa Assembly  vowed to carry out peaceful campaigns and accept the results of the elections. ‘’I have nothing wrong against my brother sigar and all the other aspirants. Given a neutral organising entity  I am willing to take part in a campaign,’’ stated Fredrick Amayo. The aspirants greeted each in a bid to display unity despite vying for the same