Ruto and Gachagua Told to end Hostilities for Peace Prevalence
By The COAST Reporter
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Religious and civil society organizations in Malindi of Kilifi County staged a peace walk in the wake of rising political tensions, insecurity, corruption and gender-based violence in the country on September 29, 2024.
Praising God and singing songs of peace, they marched from the Malindi International Airport through Malindi town to the St Anthony’s Catholic Cathedral where their leaders read a joint press statement.
The clergies and activists called on President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua to end their hostilities and instead work together for the sake nation’s security and unity.
While marking the World Peace Day, the demonstrators urged parliamentarians who were planning to table a motion of impeachment against the DP on Tuesday to shelve it for reconciliation efforts instead.
For the Coast region, they called for urgent attention to insecurity issues fueled by acts of extremism and organized crime, land conflicts, corruption and gender-based violence that included child defilement and the killings of elderly persons on suspicion of witchcraft practices.
The leaders called on the government, religious and civil society organizations as well as community members to take action against any threats to peace and peaceful co-existence in order to enable the country to thrive in all fronts.
They challenged every citizen to reject bribery, nepotism and any form of corruption noting that it was the collective duty of all citizens to promote good governance.
The leaders said they were concerned by youth unemployment and drug abuse challenges saying it was rendering many a youths vulnerable to crime, radicalisation and a sense of hopelessness.
Those who participated in the walk included members of the Catholic Diocese of Malindi’s Catholic Justice and Peace Department, Muslim faithful, nongovernmental organizations led by Haki Yetu organization, and members of the Malindi District Cultural Association.
