The youth in Nakuru have been urged to be on the fore front in promoting peace ahead of the 2017 general elections.
According to National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) chairperson Francis Ole Kaparo, it is the role of youth, who form the largest segment of the country's population, to do what is right to ensure peaceful co-existence among different communities.
Speaking at a Nakuru hotel on Monday during a training workshop for Nakuru County youths organised by the commission and the county government, Kaparo regretted the fact that young, innocent minds were allowing themselves to be manipulated during political campaigns to turn against each other.
“As a commission, we are concerned on what happens during electioneering periods and next year is no different, that is why we have decided to work with county governments to ensure that our youth understand their mandate and role as far as cohesion, integration and peace is concerned,” the former speaker of the national assembly noted.
Kaparo urged youths to remain sober, make informed decisions and avoid complaining later by supporting and electing poor leaders.
He further called on leaders not to take advantage of the situation by inciting Kenyans against each other saying that once such damages are done, it takes ages to take the once peaceful community back to its normal state because a feeling of insecurity and lack of trust emerges.
“Everybody has a role to play to ensure a peaceful and productive society, don’t just sit there and leave everything to the commission, we might not be able to reach the more than 40 million Kenyans but be rest assured that we are committed in what we are doing,” he said.
The three day workshop is set to push young people into action and encourage them to take up the role of fighting for a peaceful society which is key for a vibrant economy.