Company owners launch peace drive

Vimal Shah. The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa), religious and youth leaders also asked politicians to tone down on their utterances to avoid dividing the nation. PHOTO / FILE   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Businessman Chris Kirubi said the perpetrators of the Mpeketoni attacks must be apprehended. He appealed to religious leaders to preach peace.
• The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa), religious and youth leaders also asked politicians to tone down on their utterances to avoid dividing the nation.

By Nation Correspondent
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Business owners and religious leaders have launched a peace campaign in the country following heightened political activity.

 

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa), religious and youth leaders also asked politicians to tone down on their utterances to avoid dividing the nation.

Speaking during a breakfast meeting at a Nairobi hotel yesterday, Kepsa chairman Vimal Shah said tension would negatively affect business.

“This is not the time for political rallies and mudslinging. It is time to stand together. We don’t want destruction,” he said.

“This is not the time for polarisation. It is time to ensure prosperity within our borders,” added Mr Shah, who is also the Bidco CEO.

The business leader said the latest utterances by politicians and their supporters were likely to flare up the country, adding that the launch of the peace campaign was meant to prevent such a situation.

While also calling for peace, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said leaders should concentrate on providing employment for the youth and tackling insecurity.

“Foreign investors have an appetite to come to Kenya but we must tackle insecurity and focus on creating jobs for the youth,” he said.
He spoke at the same event.

Kenya Red Cross Secretary-General Abbas Gullet said lives had been lost during ethnic clashes in parts of northeastern Kenya and the Rift Valley.

Hundreds of people have also been displaced by the ethnic clashes, he added.

Mr Gullet said the latest case of violence were the attacks in Mpeketoni, Lamu, which left more than 50 people dead.

He said Kenya should find a lasting solution to such violence.

“We must find a solution to these problems. We must address these issues once and for all,” he said.

Businessman Chris Kirubi said the perpetrators of the Mpeketoni attacks must be apprehended. He appealed to religious leaders to preach peace.