Women Elders in Nyanza appeal to US Embassy to withdraw security alert
September 2, 2022
Women Elders in
Nyanza appeal to US Embassy to withdraw security alert
A number of women elders in Nyanza region has appealed to
the United States of America to consider withdrawing the security alert that it
issued yesterday to its citizens staying and working in Kisumu ahead of the
Kenya’s Supreme Court ruling next week on Monday.
The women elders led by Dr Phoebe Nyawalo and accompanied by
members of the Civil Societies Organizations {CSOs} and women of faith from
various denominations say they are very much shocked with the yesterday’s
security alert from the United States Embassy in Nairobi to their citizens
working in Kisumu claiming that violence might be witnessed following the
Supreme Court ruling on Monday on the issue of Presidential election petition
that was filed before the court early this week.
Nyawalo says the security alert notice that specifically single
out Kisumu and its environs is high discriminative, counterproductive and
utterly unwanted.
They further say such an alert should never been done to the
detriment of the local community living in Nyanza especially Kisumu.
“There are well created avenues to channel communication in
various organizations all over the world on how such security alert and travel
advisories should be done without causing much harm to the people,” they say in
a press statement.
They say such information should have been sent to their
citizens staying in Kisumu via their phones or emails discreetly.
They maintain that Kisumu has remained peaceful before,
during and after the just concluded polls, adding that such security alert is
meant to profile Kisumu and its environs as a possible area where violence may
erupt following the Supreme Court.
They say the communities living in Nyanza region will keep
peace no matter the outcome from the Supreme Court on Monday.
“We therefore appeal to these embassies who have issued such
travel advisory to their citizens to withdraw and offer voluntary apology to
the people of Kisumu and its environs,” they add.
Betty Okero, Team leader of the Civil Societies Organizations
{CSO} Networks such security alert signals the element of intolerance.
Okero says there is need to stop stereotyping and presenting
narratives about a whole community.
“Such narratives should be stopped because they seems to
prepare violence where there is none,” Okero says.
Former Karachuonyo Member of Parliament Phoebe Asiyo urged
the residents of Nyanza region to maintain peace so as to prove that being
peaceful is now their business.
She has appealed to the development partners to know that
there is calm in Kisumu and its environs.
Millicent Oucho of Women of faith says such alerts have been
counterproductive to the peace building works that have been witnessed within
the region.
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Well said team Kisumu women leaders..What does the US Embassy know that Kenyans don't know? Sadly..this not only cause intolerance, but builds stereotypes that disadvantages a whole community..waache za ovyo!
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