Political, religious and community leaders have been challenged to ensure equitable distribution of resources and opportunities across the gender divide to mitigate conflict.
Speaking on Friday in Nakuru during the County’s inaugural Prayer Breakfast, Karen Hospital CEO Betty Gikonyo said inequalities in resource allocation and skewed appointments in devolved governance units precipitate conflicts amongst communities.
"Women representation should be accelerated as insulated in the constitution to achieve the one-third rule on either gender in elective and other appointment posts," said Gikonyo.
The Karen Hospital CEO urged leaders from across the political divide to engage the general population pro-actively in nurturing good relationships to actualise their development agenda.
Gikonyo said unity among the people and the political class will accelerate economic development and attract investors into the county to ease the unemployment crisis facing the country.
"Unity must be reinforced in the county and therefore it must begin by accepting the diversity of our thoughts. We do not have to be hostile and violent to one another," she said.
Governor Kinuthia Mbugua asked the over 700 invited guests to preach peaceful coexistence he says is currently enjoyed in Nakuru County despite residents belonging to diverse ethnic communities.
Mbugua said the county will overcome majority of its problems when the leaders speak in one voice.
The prayer breakfast meeting was attended by MPs Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town East), Jacob Macharia (Molo), Joseph Kiuna (Njoro), David Gikaria (Nakuru Town East), Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), Nelson Gaichuhie (Subukia), Mary Mbugua (County MP) Nominated Senators Liza Chelule and Paul Njoroge, among other leaders.