Officers preach peace during polls

By Renson Buluma

The Kenya police took their peace message to Busia County with calls to Kenyans to unite during and after the next General Election.

In an emotional peace appeal, the Police Christian Association led by Pastor Robert Lumbasi urged Kenyans to shun leaders out to divide them along tribal lines.

 Lumbasi, a police constable attached to Parliament Buildings, said security officers go through psychological distress during electioneering period because they spend time in the streets restoring peace and order.

No sleep

He said that during such times they are always denied the opportunity to attend to their families.

“We are here to preach peace so that when we go for elections police officers may have time with their families because each time you fight one another, as soldiers we don’t sleep in our houses yet we have families who need our attention,” said Lumbasi.

He added, “We are tired of engaging with you in running battles because of election related violence.”

Lumbasi said the country has a potential to scale greater height of development if Kenyans unite and shun divisive and non-progressive politics.

He was addressing hundreds of Busia residents who turned up for Christian Inter- denomination crusades at Busia Taxi Park over the weekend.

The meeting was organised by Bishop George Odhiambo of Joint Outreach Evangelism Ministries.

Create harmony

Rev Odhiambo who early this year banned politicians from using his pulpit to address members of his congregation, said the objective of the meeting was to create harmony and remove mistrust among the locals ahead of elections.

“As a ministry we are interested in oneness of Kenyans irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds, colour or religion and this is the foundation of peace, a key component for prosperity of any given nation,” affirmed Rev Odhiambo.