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Last Updated: 10/07/2012
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Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has called on presidential aspirants to run their election campaigns on national, trans-ethnic platforms and completely refrain from defining opponents by their ethnic belongings.
Mr. Musyoka said that the contest should not be made to look as if it is between one ethnic community and another or between several ethnic communities together running against one community.
The Vice President made the remarks today when he opened a Conference of Community Tensions, Dialogue and Peace Building at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nairobi.
The two day conference is organized by the National Commission on Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), Coventry University, University of Nairobi (UoN) and the British Council among other stakeholders.
He lauded the NCIC for developing the Kenya Kwanza Initiative on peaceful coexistence, noting that he promptly signed the charter as an expression of his commitment to its ideals.
The Vice President noted that unregulated election opinion polling constructs high hopes and exaggerates egos that could be difficult to contain when in the end the actual results are contrary to the predetermined sense of victory as in the past election.
Mr. Musyoka said that all candidates in an election ought to commit themselves to accept the results of the election.
He called on Kenyans to realize that the purpose of an election is to identify one candidate out of many to lead or to represent citizens.
Mr. Musyoka urged those dissatisfied with the results of the election to take the honorable decision to seek arbitration and redress from the courts of law.
At the same time, he called on voters to be cautious and weary of election propagandists and manipulators of public psych and remember always that in their own interest and that of the society, the choice must ultimately be based on the singular criterion of honesty and integrity.
On income, the Vice President noted that eradication of poverty and creation of wealth for Kenyans is arguably the most potent solution to the resource-based tension and conflict that now prevails in some areas.
Mr. Musyoka said there was need to improve credit and financial markets, stepping up investment, expand the existing enterprises and create new ones and ultimately creating jobs for the youth.
On security in the region, the Vice President called for concerted effort to ensure there is peace in the neighboring countries.
Mr. Musyoka said Kenya contributed to the pursuit of peace in Sudan, leading to the realization of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the year 2005 and eventually to the rise of the independent republic of South Sudan through a peaceful referendum last year.
Present were Permanent Secretary Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs, Dr. Ludeki Chweya, Prof. Henry Mutoro of UoN, Prof. Mike Hardy, Vice Chancellor, Coventry University, Chairman NCIC, Dr. Muzalendo Kibunjia and Mr. Mutuku Nguli of British Council among other dignitaries.
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