Introduction
Dear Partners ,
PeaceNet - Kenya, launched an 'Election Violence Reduction project on Monday, 12th November 2007 in Nairobi, at a PeaceNet Regional Coordinator's consultative meeting.
This is the third edition in a series of weekly updates that is informing partners of unfolding events during the elections and mobilizing stakeholders for interventions.
Red Flag
There is concerns over politicians ferrying crude weapons in unclear circumstances. Assistant minister for Water Mr. Raphael Wanjala's vehicle was impounded in Naivasha town ferrying crude weapons. In another incident, a vehicle belonging to the outgoing Bumula Member of Parliament Mr. Wakoli Bifwoli was intercepted carrying youths who were armed with crude weapons.
Violence in Mt Elgon and Molo is escalating resulting into internally displaced people migrating to adjacent towns.
Nyanza
- In Bonchari constituency, tension resulting from irregularities during party nominations and colluding of party officials with party aspirants in issuance of party nomination certificates was witnessed during the concluded party nominations. ECK Officers in Bonchari, intervened by rejecting aspirants who colluded with party officials to rig the nominations. Loosing candidates have since defected to other smaller parties. This could heighten tension during elections.
- Nyanza PeaceNet Regional Coordinator has approached church leaders to convene a forum with Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) on issues of hate speech and allegedly double registration in Bonchari constituency
- On 20th November 2007, Bamachoge constituency Misesi Location. Hate speeches by aspirants resulted to fracas that was characterized by throwing of stones by party supporters.