Politicians should be given time to express their views and opinions about contemporary issues in the society since they are integral part of representation, Nyamira residents have been told.
Speaking on Tuesday at Nyamiranga village during a funeral service, political activist and human rights defendant Catherine Nyamato said the trend of political intolerance in the county was worrying and time had come for residents to behave in a civilised manner.
She accused unnamed politicians of allegedly funding groups of youths to disrupt functions attended by their perceived political foes.
“Freedom of speech is fundamental in the society. I have seen in more than one occasion speeches of certain politicians interrupted by rowdy youths. This is a new trend in Nyamira and the issue isn’t good for our society at all. We need to be a bit civilised,” she said.
She urged youths to shun politicians who intended to use them in pursuant of their personal interest besides urging the NCIC to deploy its officers to political functions and large meetings in the region to handle politician who were allegedly planting seeds of hatred on clan basis.
“Every political leader must be accorded equal respect and that is why it is important for youths to shun politician who want to use them to intimidate other leaders. This is also another prime opportunity for NCIC to handle those who incite residents on the basis of clans,” she added.
This comes a time when a number of meetings are said to be disrupted in the region when a politician who is considered ‘bad’ by audience is interrupted or forced to flee due to the hostility against him or her in the region.