Voice of America
02 Jul 2022, 23:35 GMT+10
Nairobi - As Kenya heads toward a highly contested presidential election, many are worried about a repeat of deadly violence seen in past votes. The Kenyan group Mothers of Victims and Survivors is calling for all sides to maintain peace during this year's polls.
Benna Buluma, also known as Mama Victor, is clutching photos of her two deceased sons at her makeshift home in the Mathare section of Nairobi.
Election time brings painful memories to the 48-year-old widow.
On August 9, 2017, her sons; Benard and Victor Okoth, both young men, were shot dead following a police crackdown on election protests in the area, just a day after the presidential polls. Five years later, the killers still have not been held accountable.
If it was my sons who had killed someone on the road, they would have been arrested, says Buluma as she fights back tears. But the police who killed my sons have not been arrested to date, she says, and that is what pains me the most. I ask myself why, she adds. They are all human beings, and the law should serve everyone equally.
Mathare, one of the biggest slums in Africa, with some of the most densely populated poor neighborhoods in Nairobi, has remained a constant hotspot of election violence.
MarryAnn Kasina is the co-founder of Social Justice Center, an organization that advocates for social justice in Nairobi.
"Every time we have elections, they know what our issues are, but they have not actualized,' Kasina said. 'So, bringing your manifesto, to say that you are bringing water, you'll do this...it just brings horizontal violence because you are already living in poverty. It is violence already living in it, you know."
Mama Victor founded the group Mothers of Victims and Survivors Network to help families seek justice.
The group is urging election authorities and participants in the August presidential election to refrain from violence.
We want a peaceful election, she says. And that's not all - we, as mothers of victims, we want justice for our children, and compensation, she adds.
The Kenyan police have been accused of using excessive force in handling past election-related protests.
With just over a month to the general elections, the National Police Service says it is prepared to provide a secure environment for the polls to run peacefully.
In a statement to VOA, police spokesperson Bruno Shioso said steps have been taken to improve security, including new election security training and additional equipment for officers.
Past elections in Kenya have been marred by deadly violence. In the most notorious incident, more than 1,100 people were killed in riots and attacks after the disputed 2007 vote.
But, as the clock ticks toward this year's balloting, observers are cautiously optimistic that the polls will be peaceful.
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationKenyan President William Ruto (2nd R) attends the groundbreaking ceremony of a Nairobi River ecological restoration project in Nairobi,...
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 23 (ANI): Delhi Capitals' (DC) seamer Mukesh Kumar produced a match-winning spell, picking up...
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 22 (ANI): KL Rahul's belligerent display and Abhishek Porel's composed half-century lifted Delhi...
The late Catholic leader was humble and always supported the abused and the downtrodden except in one very sad case When a great...
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 22 (ANI): In a gripping Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal...
GENEVA, 22nd April, 2025 (WAM) -- The World Food Programme (WFP) today warned of worsening hunger and malnutrition in Ethiopia, as...
THE VATICAN - The world is in shock and mourning on Easter Monday as it woke to the news that Pope Francis had died. Having recently...
WASHINGTON, DC - A Trump administration early retirement plan at the Internal Revenue Service has been accepted by more than 22,000...
WASHINGTON, D.C. President Donald Trump's administration wants to cut the State Department's budget by nearly half, according to documents...
Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 23 (ANI): United States Vice President JD Vance will visit Agra today as part of his four-day official...
New Delhi [India], April 23 (ANI): Moments after his arrival in Delhi early Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a briefing...
New Delhi [India], April 23 (ANI): India and the US have finalised terms of reference for the ongoing negotiations for completing a...