The National Commission for Integration and Cohesion (NCIC) has constituted a fifteen-member team of distinguished individuals entrusted with fostering dialogue peace and resolving any post-election difficulties.
Through a statement, the commission noted that it is fully aware from previous experiences that differences are likely to arise from the hotly contested polls.
“From 2007 to date we have needed various solutions to deal with electoral disagreements and as such the NCIC through its “Elections Bila Noma” identified the need to create a panel of eminent person who would be charged with championing dialogue peace and managing any post poll issues,” the statement read.
Ambassador Francis Muthaura (convenor), Archbishop Ole Sapit (faith leader), Archbishop Philip Anyolo (faith leader), Archbishop Anthony Muheria (faith leader), Bishop Emeritus Stephen Kewasis, Dr. Samuel Kobia (ex-official member), and Chancellor Robert Mutula have all been selected to the panel.
Others are; Justice (Rtd) Joyce Aluoch, Lieutenant General (Rtd) Daniel Opande, Lieutenant General (Rtd) Lazarus Sumbeiywo, Dr. Vimal Shah, Nerima Wako, Fatuma Abdikadir, and Sheikh Hamad Kassim.
The team has been assigned seven crucial duties in order to resolve electoral disputes.
Facilitating dialogue and mediation between contending parties to minimize hostilities, as well as encouraging locally driven solutions to political problems, are among them.
The staff will also be responsible for managing the expectations of both winners and losers, ensuring that the winner is magnanimous in victory and the loser is dignified in defeat.
This acknowledges that both winners and losers have expectations that will be inflated or frustrated. They (mediators) will seek to reconcile aspirations with post-election realities.
“Mediation of politically related conflict at the local, regional and national levels with strategies informed by the local contexts. Facilitating efficient communication between disputing parties including shuttle,” NCIC said.