NAIROBI JULY 15, 2016(CISA) – Kenyans want the runway corruption experienced in both the counties and the national government addressed before the next year’s general elections, a new study has shown.
According to the study commissioned by Jesuit Hakimani Centre across 30 counties in Kenya, 23 percent of the respondents want corruption addressed “with the seriousness it deserves at the national level whereas 21 percent want it addressed at the county level before the 2017 general elections.”
The report titled; Election Agenda 2017 and Beyond-Elections Issuefication also showed insecurity as issue to be addressed by the national government before the polls at 24 percent while only 2 percent of the respondents want insecurity issue addressed at the county level.
Dr Elias Mokua, the Principal researcher said that the research was part of “bringing the aspect of issues not Ethnicity, religion or political parties in the forthcoming general elections”
“Election Agenda 2017 and Beyond is more about issues. Election is meant to bring leaders into power. Leadership is about people bringing about agenda,” said Dr Mokua during a two-day conference to discuss the emerging issues in the study and to propose steps towards a peaceful 2017 elections.
“The study basically focuses on citizens agenda. What agenda do we have for leaders seeking political power? What agenda are we proposing to the leaders? When we read about their party manifestos, whose agenda is in that manifesto?” he asked.
The conference was officially opened by Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro, July 13 at Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations (HIPSA) in Nairobi.
Speaking during the conference, Bishop Cornelius Korir,Chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (KCCB)- Catholic Justice and Peace Commision(CJPC) warned against “going to Elections on a background of Violence.”
“As we reflect on next year’s General Elections we have to look back at what has been happening in our country every time we have elections. As we move to 2017 all of us have to see how to have elections without violence,” said the bishop who is also a goodwill ambassador for the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
“I think it’s only 2002 and 2013 that we had peaceful elections. We see the other election marked with violence, 1992, 1997, 2008,” he said.
Apart from corruption and security, the study also found out Health care, education and employment as some of the issues Kenyans want addressed by both the county and the national government before the 2017 general elections.
The study was conducted between May and July 2016 targeting Kenyans aged 18 years and above and are able to read, understand and fill the questionnaire without external assistance.
