|PIC1|NAIROBI: Nairobi Archbishop Raphael Ndingi Mwana'a Nzeki has made a passionate appeal for peaceful campaigning in the run-up to a November 21 national referendum on a new constitution for Kenya.

The archbishop spoke out after 4 people died at an October 28 rally in the western city of Kisumu. The rally had disintegrated into a clash with police after young thugs disrupted the meeting, which was being held by supporters of the proposed constitution.

Another 30 people were injured after police opened fire on the crowd. Reports indicated that a mob had attacked the police station, seeking to free an arrested comrade.

"My plea to all of them is that they conduct their campaigns peacefully. There will be winners and losers, but how you vote is your choice. This should not divide us. |TOP|Avoid violence because it does not help anybody," said Archbishop Ndingi, while attending a voter-education meeting at Kenya's Holy Family basilica.

The National Christian Council of Kenya also condemned the killings, and urged the police to use non-lethal methods to control crowd and calm riots, exhorting Kenyans to avoid violent activities that infringe the rights of others. "We urge Kenyans to conduct themselves responsibly in the course of the campaigns and not to accept to be used by ruthless power seekers who would exploit them," said the Rev. Mutava Musyimi.


[Editor's Note: Mwangi Alex reported from Nairobi, Kenya for this article]




Mwangi Alex
Christian Today Correspondent