Peace is a vital ingredient for a flourishing economy

Peace is a vital ingredient for the development of any country's economy. This is what our Kenyan leaders seem to have forgotten. With a budget that is unrealistic and overreaching in many aspects Kenya requires a peaceful environment like never before.

The importance of peace need not be overemphasized at this point and time bearing in mind that the ugly scars of the 2007/08 post-election violence are still fresh in our bodies and soul. Elections are around the corner and thus our Kenyan politicians need to focus their energies, time and resources on bringing Kenyans together.

Leaders ought to naturally at the forefront preach for peace. This is because the economic consequences of violence are dire. For example, business losses caused by CORD during the anti-IEBC protests are considerably high. Investors are also keen watching how the countdown to the 2017 polls is unfolding.

Leaders should know that investors are ever cautious and might even postpone major investment decisions until after peace prevails in case chaos occurs after the polls. The shilling will obviously weaken and the cost of living will skyrocket.

It is therefore my plea that politicians should realize early the folly of leading the people into chaos with incitements. They risk plunging this country to an economic slowdown with its attendant far-reaching consequences. The common man whom all leaders claim to be fighting for will grapple with hard times for lack of a peaceful environment to eke out a living.

It is widely known that the fortunes of tourism, once a key economic pillar, sharply dwindled after the 2007/08 post-election chaos and is yet to resurface. It is therefore crucial that we join hands to nurture and maintain a culture of peace around election period. We cannot grow our economy if every time we hold elections there is chaos. Leaders must therefore stick to peaceful measures and maintain law and order, our economy strongly depends on this.