Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has urged leaders opposed to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) to give the team ample time to make their reports after which questions can be raised on the findings.
While speaking during the United Graduate College and Seminary International (U.G.C & S) graduation ceremony in Nairobi, Kalonzo argued that it was premature to dismiss the initiative since its fruits had not been seen yet.
“The BBI team has been collecting opinions of Kenyans from different parts of the country and let's not fight them until they table their report in which I believe is for the interest of all Kenyans. And, upon this report is where those who seem to be opposed to it can now share their views to the rest of us,” he stated.
BBI, an initiative founded under Handshake by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga is expected to table their report latest by October 24, 2019, after collecting views from Kenyans.
The Wiper leader called for peace arguing that development can only be realised if there is calm.
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“It’s time for us as a country both from the political class, religious leaders and all Kenyans from all walks of life should promote peace. This is crucial for economic development and especially now that the government is on the forefront in realizing the Big Four Agenda,” he said.
At the graduation event, three people were honoured for their contribution to social work and peace in Kenya.
Dr Harbhajan Singh Gill and Dr Kalpana Karia were both awarded with a doctorate in humanity while Dr Fred Akama Okatch was honored with a doctorate in divinity.
Singh Gill has been working in slum areas of Kenya and Tanzania enabling low income earning families to access education while Kkalpana Karia has been advocating for the women empowerment in Kisumu.
Fred Okatch runs a church that offers mentorship to slum children by offering them capital for business, scholarships and preaching peace and against drug abuse.
The trio advocated for peace in their areas of work, ensuring that the youth are not used in violence during elections
“These awards have been offered to you because of your various contribution towards humanity and promoting peace, love and harmony through religion among Kenyans, “said Prof Clyde Rivers, the President of U.G.C &S, while addressing the three.
Prof Rivers added that ‘Africa can only develop when our leaders are focused in promoting peace among the locals’ adding that leaders can come up with mechanism to address their challenges facing the continent without waiting for those from other continents.
“This continent is blessed with everything and it’s the new El-Dorado that every other continent is seeking to tap into but African leaders must rethink what kind of friendship they want, a friendship that fosters peace and economic development and not friendship that promotes violence in order to reap the continent of its natural resources,” he stated.
According Dr Okatch supported those sentiments by saying that Kenya needs to foster a peaceful environment that will favor both local and international investors.
“We urge the government to ensure that both local and foreign investors are treated equally as way of ensuring that they grow our economy which in return will foster development. But all these can be achieved when both business, political and religious leaders work together for a common unity of Kenyans,” he said.
