Lubao FM News 
The Bishop of Kakamega, Rt. Rev. Joseph Obanyi Sagwe, on 10th September 2021 presided of the unveiling of the 2021 Matungu By-Election Observation Report.
In a Multi-stakeholder event held at the Bishop Nicholas Stam Pastoral Centre, Bishop Obanyi emphasized the importance of the report especially when appreciated in the context of the approaching 2022 General elections terming the event an opportunity to initiate conversations aimed at realizing peaceful and credible elections not just in Kakamega County but across the Country.
In wide ranging remarks, Bishop Obanyi expressed the mind of the Church on various governance issues including; citizen participation (voter registration and turnout), the regrettable culture of violence in politics, corruption and its impact on the integrity of the vote, ethnic intolerance and hate speech, the role of religious institutions in the discourse as well as the level of preparedness by facilitative agencies especially the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
The Report published by the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission – Kakamega is a culmination of a process that culminated with the elections held in Matungu on 4th March 2021.
The Bishop who served as the Chairman of the CJPC Observer Mission appreciated the role the commission is playing in advancing the voice of the church on various matters that constitute the Social Concern of the Church including transformative civic education, peace building as well as governance and Democracy.
The event had in attendance; IEBC Representatives, National Police Service Representative, National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Western region leaders, SUPKEM Representative, Office of the County Commissioner, Anglican Development Services (ADS) –Western as well as CJPC Parish and Deanery leaders led by the Diocesan CJPC Chaplain Rev. Fr. John Baptist, MHM.
By Imelda Lihavi
