Civil
Society Organizations in Migori County have called for calm following chaotic political party primaries which have left the County more fragile than it has been for the last two years since the passage of the new constitution in August 2010.
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| This building in Migori was burnt during the 2007/9 Post election violence |
The County is one of Kenya's multi - ethnic devolved units which have often experienced tensions between the dominant ethnic Luo and the minority Kuria among other communities settled there.
The more than 10 CSOs condemned recent incidents of
violence arising from the political party nominations and urge residents to
maintain peace ahead of the March 4 polls.
Pockets of violence and confrontations were witnessed in especially Nyatike, Awendo, Uriri constituencies following delays in receiving party nomination papers leading to unclear lists of nomination winners for various seats.
During the
consultative meeting held in Migori Town, the CSOs extensively reviewed the
conduct of the recent political party primaries and said they had concluded that they were "chaotic, fraudulent and totally undemocratic".
" We wish to
point out that the primaries were marred by disorganization, fraud, delays and
in some cases, violence which could have been avoided had the parties,
particularly the Orange Democratic Movement ((ODM) and its candidates made
the necessary preparations for nominations," they said in a statement.
They pointed out what they claimed were "widespread incidents of voter bribery, use of youth
and school children in the campaigns, burning of ballot papers in some polling
centers, delay in delivery of voting material and general indiscipline" which they said brought tension and undermined peace in the county.
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| An ODM supporters dances at recent rally at Migori Stadium |
The group has called on
the ODM political leadership, as the dominant party in this region, to move
with speed to resolve any grievances from its candidates and supporters arising
from the nomination exercise to reduce the acrimony and a fall-out that now
threatens the peace and harmony in the County.
"We note, in
our post nomination survey that a majority of Migori County residents do not
wish a recurrence of the violence that was witnessed in the region in 2007/8,
which led to deaths, destruction of property and displacements,"
They said there was need for urgent voter education ahead of the March 4 polls and declared the
readiness to work together towards making a
rapid intervention to ensure voters were educated on the voting process which will involve six positions.
While lauding the the general restraint by security personnel during the recent
demonstrations in Migori town, they urged greater consultation and collaboration between
the government and local stakeholders towards nurturing peace and tranquility.
"We urge the
different ethnic groups in Migori County to sustain the cohesion and
understanding that has been built through dialogue over the last two years and
ask politicians to desist from sowing seeds of discord among the people," the added.
They also resolved to work with the government organs and the Migori County Peace Forum
to re-energize all the peace structures ahead of the elections and to hold
dialogue forums to engage the politicians and their supporters.
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| Migori residents at a recent ODM rally before the nominations |
The CSOs also
pledged to mobilize voters in Migori County to turn out in large numbers on
March 4 to vote in leaders of their choice for both the national and county
government as part of actualizing the promises of the new constitution which
they worked hard for and delivered in 2010.
The CSOs included Migori
Civic Local Affairs Network (CLAN), Migori Peace Forum, Kuria
Disability Network, Rise Trust, RAPADO, Africa Centre for
Volunteers (ACV), Mount Everest Youth
Initiative, Rieko Kenya, Community Action for
Rural Development(CARD), CIPADO and the religious community represented by the Methodist Church in Migori.
Ends//
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