Mombasa, KENYA: Mombasa Senatorial candidate vying on an ODM ticket Mohammed Faki has accused politicians aligned to Jubilee of involving school going children in their campaigns ahead of the August polls.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Mombasa, Faki said it is against the law for politicians to use students in their campaign trail saying that it is a way of risking their lives in case any violence breaks out.
He pointed out that this was was evident during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit on Sunday at his Jomvu political rally; where hundreds of school children were ferried to the venue cheer him.
“It is unlawful for politicians to use students in their political campaigns. We saw it on Sunday yesterday during the president Uhuru Kenyattas visit at Jomvu rally. We saw hundreds of students being ferried to cheer the president.” Faki said.
He urged the current Education CS Matiang’i to take stern action on any politician who will be found in the wrong hands of the law, involving students to drive their campaign agenda.
On the other hand, Salma Hemed a gender rights activist from Haki Afrika, said they have confirmed that they have been receiving reports from the public that some prominent politician’s across the county are using students in their campaign trail.
She expressed fears that some of the students may be misused in triggering political violence if the situation is not fully addressed.
“We have been receiving reports of some students being involved in campaign rallies. We fear that these students will be misused by politicians to fuel violence if the government will not address the issue.” She said.
She urged the Independence and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to take a stern action and disqualify any politician who will be found ferrying students to their political campaigns.
The political temperatures in the country is gaining momentum with both the opposition and the Jubilee administration conducting a series of campaigns in various parts of the country.
