Francis Wambugu Irungu Kirinyaga County Commissioner Hussein Allasow and the County Security Committee have called on the youth to stay away from political violence, warning young people against being weaponized by politicians for selfish interests.
Speaking during an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission youth engagement forum held at the NG-CDF offices in Kirinyaga County on February 26, 2026, Allasow delivered a measured appeal for peace and unity ahead of what is expected to be a charged political season.
“Politics comes and goes,” Allasow noted, calling on residents to remain together and peaceful regardless of the prevailing political atmosphere. He emphasized that political rivalries are temporary and that communities must not allow them to tear apart the social fabric that binds neighbors and families together.
The County Commissioner cautioned the youth that there is no permanent enmity between politicians, who often reconcile after contests while leaving behind communities fractured by the violence they instigated. He urged young people not to allow themselves to be used as pawns in acts of violence that ultimately harm their own futures and livelihoods.
Allasow also acknowledged that government institutions had undergone significant reforms over the years to better serve Kenyans, asking residents to give the systems room to work. “Let us be patient with government institutions,” he called out, reminding the audience that the government listens and acts on the concerns of citizens. He stressed that whenever people feel the need to have their voices heard, they must use the right and lawful channels rather than resorting to chaos and destruction.
His sentiments were strongly backed by Kirinyaga Central Member of Parliament Gachoki Gitari, who brought a sharp and direct message to the young people in attendance. The legislator challenged the youth to think critically whenever politicians come calling with promises tied to violence.
“When a politician asks you to engage in violence, ask him to send their children too!” Gitari declared, drawing attention to the glaring double standard where those who incite violence rarely expose their own families to the dangers they unleash on others.
The forum, organized under the IEBC’s youth engagement initiative, brought together young people from across the county to discuss their role in promoting peaceful and credible electoral processes. Both leaders agreed that the youth represent the most powerful constituency in the country and that their energy must be directed toward constructive civic participation rather than destruction.
