Nyali Constituency Member of Parliament Hezron Awiti has called on Church leaders to continue promoting love and unity in the country.

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Awiti said the Church was better placed to preach peace and love as political temperatures rise ahead of the 2017 general elections.

Speaking on Sunday at the Redeemed Gospel Church, Changamwe where he attended a church service, the legislator noted that the church plays a pivotal role in ensuring peace and stability in the country.

"As we head into the 2017 elections, I still have a strong conviction that the Church has an important role to play in uniting the people of Kenya especially in Mombasa County, where people come from diverse religious backgrounds," said Awiti.

"Church leaders need to stand against a few people who preach tribal and religious intolerance and instead support peaceful co-existence because we are all equal in the eyes of God," he added.

The legislator further used the occasion to assert his intent to run for the Mombasa County gubernatorial seat.

"I have made my stand that I will be vying for the seat of Governor of Mombasa in the 2017 elections and my rallying call has always been that of unity, economic development and to fight social ills like drug abuse," he said.