The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has appointed 15 renowned Kenyans to the peace panel ahead of the General Election.
In a statement dated Monday, August 8, NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia announced that the panel would be convened by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) boss Ambassador Francis Muthaura.
Muthaura will be assisted by a co-convenor, retired Justice Joyce Aluoch, who served as a judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) between 2009 and 2018.
Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit of the Anglican Church and Catholic Archbishops Anthony Muheria and Philip Anyolo will lead the panel on matters of faith and spirituality.
They will be joined by Sheikh Hamad Kassim and Fatuma Abdikadir, who is the panel's expert in sports for peace faith.
Bidco Boss Vimal Shah was named the panel's corporate leader. St John Ambulance Chancellor Robert Mutula's experience in public engagement also earned him a spot on the panel.
The mediation team will be led by retired Lieutenant Generals Daniel Opande and Lazarus Sumbeiywo while Bishop Emeritus Stephen Kewasis will offer guidance in peace and reconciliation discussions.
Other members include governance expert Catherine Musakali, youth leader Nerima Wako and Kobia, who will sit on the panel as an ex-officio member.
The panel will be charged with facilitating dialogue and mediation between disputing parties, fostering solutions to political disputes and facilitating negotiations for common positions in the interest of Kenyans.
In addition, it will oversee the mediation of politically related conflict besides, mobilising Kenyans to respect and uphold the rule of law and diffuse political tension.
Meanwhile, the commission reiterated its call for Kenyans to maintain peace before, during and after the General Election and allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to exercise its mandate.
"Let us cooperate with the official instructions of the IEBC to ensure that the election process is completed well and transparently," Kobia reiterated.
