Women Elders in Nyanza appeal to US Embassy to withdraw security alert

 

Women Elders in Nyanza, Members of Civil Societies Network and Women of Faith address the press in Kisumu today where they have appealed to US Embassy in Nairobi to withdraw the yesterday's security alert it issued to its citizens working in Kisumu and its environs-Story and Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

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.