NAIROBI, Kenya July 26 – Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson has appealed to political leaders across the country to reject divisive politics and hate speech, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could undermine national unity as Kenya prepares for the next General Election.
Speaking after a church service at St. Austin’s Church in Westlands on Sunday, Sakaja urged politicians from all political affiliations to embrace issue-based campaigns and focus on addressing the concerns of ordinary Kenyans instead of promoting hatred and division.
“I want to call upon all politicians, regardless of their political divide, that politics of hate and disunity will not help us. It will only divide us. Let us come together and listen to what the mwananchi is saying, and as we go about our politics, let us move away from hate and incitement,” Sakaja said.
The Governor also challenged security agencies to take decisive action against individuals accused of disrupting political meetings, saying many of the perpetrators had already been identified through media reports and investigations.
He said the continued use of goons to intimidate political opponents had heightened political tensions and posed a serious threat to peace and stability ahead of the elections.
“Let our agencies put their work where their money is and arrest those involved. It has been in the media, and there have even been exposés on the same. It is not difficult to identify them and bring them to book. A peaceful country is a focused country, and we must remain united,” he said.
Sakaja maintained that democracy guarantees every Kenyan the right to participate in politics, but stressed that political competition must be conducted peacefully and within the law.
“We should not allow hate to take root among us. People in a democratic country are free to engage in politics, but it must be done in a decent manner,” he added.
The Governor’s remarks come amid growing concern over rising political tensions and incidents of violence at public meetings, with leaders increasingly calling for tolerance, restraint and respect for democratic freedoms ahead of the election period.
