NCIC Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia unveiled the team on Wednesday which includes former decorated military officers, businessmen, athletes, scholars and media personalities/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 3 – The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has appointed some 25 prominent Kenyans to serve as goodwill ambassadors to help steer its core mandate of enhancing peace in the country.
NCIC Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia unveiled the team on Wednesday which includes former decorated military officers, businessmen, athletes, scholars and media personalities.
“We must realise that unity and cohesion in Kenya is not a preserve of NCIC. It is the duty of each and every Kenyan,” Dr Kibunjia said.
The team includes former army chief and Sudan peace negotiator Lt. Gen (rtd) Lazurus Sumbeiywo, Lt. Gen (rtd) Daniel Opande, journalist Julie Gichuru and athletes Tegla Lorupe as well as Paul Tergat.
NCIC has also tapped clergymen Bishops Lawi Imathiu, Cornelius Korir, Canon Peter Karanja, Father Gabriel Dolan, Rev Naomi Waqo, Sheikh Abdillahi Abdi and Prof. Alghafur Busaidy.
The ambassadors first assignment will be spearheading the role of campaigning the Commission’s campaign dubbed Kenya Kwanza (Kenya comes first) which is to deliver peaceful general elections.
The ambassadors were chosen and given their clear mandates from different parts of the country.
Other NCIC goodwill ambassadors are Pheroze Nowrojee, Dr. Mary Mwiandi, Patrick Obath, Manu Chandaria, Zarina Patel, Ambassador Amina Mohammed and Priscilla Nangurai.
Musician Eric Wainaina, Adam Hussein, Florence Mpaayei, Amb. Prof Judith Mbula Bahemuka, Ikal Ang’elei and Samia Omar are also in the team.
“The ambassadors are people of different communities who are respected by the communities they come from but also to the country as a whole due to the work they have done,” he said.
Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Eugene Wamalwa told the ambassadors to brace for the tough work ahead.
“Our national cohesion suffers mostly when political temperatures rise. We need to redouble our efforts as we approach the general elections and the message Kenya kwanza must resonate throughout the public,” Wamalwa said.
Wamalwa also urged Kenyans to unite to fight terrorism.
“We must stand together as a nation. Our unity will continue to give us the resilience to overcome this external aggression and terrorists,” he added.
He urged the leaders not to be partisan on matters that are affecting the country.
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