What Do Juliani, Julie Gichuru and Catherine Ndereba Have In Common?

Juliani is going to join five other influential personalities as NCIC Goodwill Ambassadors. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission announced the gospel rapper among others as their new ambassadors.

The group includes music artistes, an industrialist, an entrepreneur, atheletes and a journalist. Besides Juliani, is Eric Wainaina, Manu Chandaria, Patrick Obath, Tecla Lorupe, Catherine Ndereba and Julie Gichuru. In past elections,music artistes have been used by presidential aspirants in their campaigns. In a recent interview, Juliani said he would never take an offer from any politician.

The rest are mostly drawn from religious groups and military backgrounds. They are Catholic Bishop Cornelius Korir, retired Methodist Bishop Lawi Imathiu, Canon Peter Karanja (National Council of Churches of Kenya), SUPKEM’s Sheikh Abdi Mohammed, Retired Generals Daniel Opande and Lazarus Sumbeiywo, and Florence Mbaiye, an activist.

The commission was set up after the 2007/2008 post election violence to promote unity and peaceful coexistence among Kenyans and inspire broader positive action. They have recruited personalities of influence to spearhead peace efforts in the run-up to the first election since the commission was set up.