A call for peace, unity and sobriety ahead of the 2027 General Election has been made, with Kenyans urged to embrace a culture of peace as a foundation for national cohesion and economic development.
The call comes amid growing concerns over political violence, goonism, corruption and alleged abductions and persecution of young people as they continue to express concerns over challenges facing the country.
More than 1,000 members of the Catholic Men Association (CMA), drawn from four deaneries within the Archdiocese of Nairobi, came together for this year’s Zone C Music Festival, where they used music and evangelization to promote peace and unity.
The men performed the set piece “Amani Bila Silaha”, a song carrying a strong message of peace and calling on Kenyans to reject violence and embrace dialogue as the country approaches the next General Election.
Fifteen teams took to the stage, using their performances to spread the Gospel and encourage men to remain united while offering hope to communities facing social and economic challenges.
The second-placed team from Githunguri Deanery, represented by James Makena and James Gathungu, expressed joy at their performance, saying the preparation required members to balance work, family responsibilities and choir practice.
They said their participation demonstrated commitment to unity and urged men not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause violence, calling on Kenyans to embrace a culture of peace and reconciliation.
The winners, St. John the Baptist Riruta, represented by Joseph Njoroge, said the message contained in Amani Bila Silaha reflects the challenges facing the country.
Njoroge said activities that bring people together through faith and music provide an important platform for spreading the Gospel of peace and sobriety across communities, adding that political differences should never be a reason for Kenyans to shed blood.
Addressing the press, the Men’s Coordinator in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, Joshua Njoroge Waweru, said the initiative was aimed at bringing men together through music and evangelization while providing an avenue to address the challenges affecting men in society.
Waweru said participation in such activities helps men manage stress and mental pressure, adding that the message of the set piece resonates with the social challenges being experienced in families and communities.
He urged Kenyans to learn from the message of the song and reject political violence, saying no political disagreement should lead to loss of life.
The coordinator further announced that the successful teams will proceed to the Archdiocesan level, where they will compete against other zones in November, culminating in the final stage of the competition.
He urged the selected teams to continue with their rehearsals while using their performances to spread the message of peace, unity and sobriety across the country.
