The chairman Deputy Governors’ Forum Kenya, Joash Maangi, has appealed to the Council of Elders to help promote peace, national cohesion and integration.
Maangi, who is also the deputy governor Kisii County said the elders’ vast experience and influence in their communities is key in uniting the nation.
He said although Kenya comprises 47 county governments, there is one indivisible nation and one people.
“Kenya is one. Let us embrace peace for the sake of posterity of the nation,” the deputy governor said during the National Council of Elders of Kenya conference at Kisii University on Monday.
Maangi said that the county government is working closely with the Abagusii Council of Elders because they were instrumental in peace keeping and reconciliation, especially along the borders.
“The elders played a key role in restoring peace along Bomet-Nyamira border after the disputed 2007 elections. They also assisted us when there was tension along Kisii-Transmara border,” he said.
The deputy governor said the county government had made a deliberate effort to support the elders have an office to ease their operations.
“The office is well equipped and we have provided them with four workers paid by the county government to help them in day to day office operations,” he said.
However, Maangi said going forward, the elders should be assisted to start income generating activities for sustainability of their social works.
Among the delegates during the conference was former Head of Civil Service and Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura.