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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA ELECTION VIOLENCE (TV)
HEADLINE: Groups Call for Peace Ahead of the August Polls in Kenya
TEASER: Mothers of victims and survivors of violence are calling on all sides to refrain from violence during this year's polls
PUBLISHED: 6/30/22
BYLINE: Juma Majanga
DATELINE: Nairobi
VIDEOGRAPHER: Amos Wangwa
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[As Kenya heads to a highly contested presidential election in August, many worry 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. Juma Majanga reports from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.]]
((NARRATOR))
Benna Buluma, also known as Mama Victor, is holding onto the only memories left of her two sons at her makeshift home in Nairobi’s Mathare informal settlements.
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.
((Benna Buluma, Mothers of Victims and Survivors Network
“If it was my sons who had killed someone on the road, they would have been arrested. But the police who killed my sons have not been arrested to date. That is what pains me the most. I ask myself why. They are all human beings, and the law should serve equally.”
((NARRATOR))
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.
((MaryAnn Kasina, Social Justice Center Co-Founder
“Every time we have elections, they know what our issues are, but they have not actualized. 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.”
((NARRATOR))
Mama Victor founded the group Mothers of Victims and Survivors Network to help families seek justice.
The group has petitioned election authorities and participants in the August presidential election to ensure peace during polls.
((Benna Buluma, Mothers of Victims and Survivors Network (Swahili, 10 secs))
“We want a peaceful election. And that’s not all, we as mothers of victims, we want justice for our children, and compensation.”
((NARRATOR))
The Kenyan police have been accused of using of 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.
((VOA GRAPHIC))
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.
((GRAPHIC: to include))
Bruno Shioso, Kenya National Police Service Spokesperson
“We have shored up our numbers to meet requirements. We have and continue to train our officers on their expectations based on a developed election security manual. We have also equipped our officers with necessary tooling for efficiency and effectiveness.”
((NARRATOR))
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.
((Juma Majanga, for VOA News, Nairobi))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Nairobi
BylineJuma Majanga
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
