A true Kenyan says NO to violence

By Caleb Mutua

Yesterday’s killing of Mr Shem Onyango is unacceptable and the culprits must be brought to book immediately.

The riots that followed, resulting to three more deaths, shows the residents’ anger over poor state of insecurity in the lakeside and the entire country.

The police must act quickly. Police must act now by establishing the motive behind the 10am shooting of the Orange Democratic Movement Kisumu aspirant to avoid speculations that could worsen the situation.

We cannot afford another violence related to elections, not at a time when we are headed to the poll in the next five months with a very fragile peace. The police must assure all aspirants and Kenyans in general that

The party’s trust in the police and the judiciary by calling for thorough investigations on the case is exemplary.

Kenyans should also say no to violence. It is sad that many innocent Kenyans lost property of an unknown value when rioters engaged the police in s crossfire.

The Post-Election Violence that almost crippled our economy, living hundreds dead and thousands others displaced should remind us our past and help us make rational decisions for a future prosperous Kenya.

We now have a new constitution, a reformed judiciary and an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) with the other government institutions reforming.

Perhaps the chaos that erupted yesterday is a reminder to the president and the prime minister that we urgently need a Chief Inspector of Police before the March 4 elections.

A strong security agency is imperative if we are to have a free, fair and peaceful election and cannot be compromised.

We are not going to destroy what we have built in the past four years because we’ve forgotten so fast what happened; how our mothers and children were mercilessly killed by people we know too well.

Say no to violence now if you are a true Kenyan.

First published in October 2012.