In the beginning of January, Initiatives of Change  (IofC) Kenya officially launched Clean Elections Campaign as political storms took centre stage across the country. With the elections taking place on 4 March, many people’s focus is to ensure that the general elections are held free and fair and that by every means possible to advocate for violence-free elections.

As a team we have therefore set upon partnering with others of the same intentions to play a part in securing Kenya through clean elections - for our aim is one - peace and unity. Earlier we had identified parts of the country that have previously been affected adversely by conflicts during election times, and decided to focus our attention there.

By first modeling the sort of a country we would all want to see, different teams and individuals in Initiatives of Change have dedicated their time and initiative to run the campaigns across the country in the effort to shun violence, encouraging voting for the right people and building trust amongst different ethnic groups.

With attractively designed pamphlets, the teams of committed people - both young and old - have gone around the country talking to people in churches, focus groups, community meetings, on the streets and have even done door to door campaigns for peace. Many people really appreciate the campaign and are signing the pledge to vote right and resist violence and manipulation by some of the greedy politicians. ‘I will not want to witness again what I witnessed in 2007-2008 and I therefore support Clean Elections Campaign’ has been a common phrase. And a business lady who previously suffered the 2007/2008 skirmishes was encouraged to see young people committed to peace. ‘This is a wonderful initiative and I feel very humbled to see that young people like you can set on such an idea’, she said.

With a week to go before the elections, the political temperature continue to be high and hot, but our message is that no matter what the results are of the elections, we shall hold our dear country together - we shall not drive our country to violence and lawlessness. There are of course politicians who are being driven by greed and selfishness and would do anything to manipulate Kenyans, but it is encouraging when we hear Kenyans say they will vote with their conscience for the right people. ‘l believe that it is time for change, and yes it begins with me and you down here at the grassroots level. Let’s be the change and lead by example’, shares Esther, one of the young IofC team members.

But this is not to say that Kenya cannot go into violence again, some people we have met in the course of the campaign have refused to sign the pledge form because they still believe they would be ready to fight - a sad fact indeed. ‘I don’t want to pledge that I won’t be involved in violence, I therefore won’t sign the pledge’ said one young man.  One hard reality is that some people, afraid of what might happen after the elections, have started moving to places they consider ‘safer’. In this case, ‘safer’ means where the majority of the population is people from your ethnic group.

Here in IofC Kenya, together with other organizations doing some great work all over Kenya, we remain committed to advocating for peaceful, free and fair elections.

Much appreciation to the teams in Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyahururu, Molo, Bungoma, and Mt Elgon, just to mention a few areas for leading the campaign.

Report by Mike Muikia, Esther Inzekellah and Njeri Kimanthi