Baringo Bodaboda rider on a one-man mission to preach peace

Gabriel Nyongesa reveals how brother's near-death experience led him to launch peace campaigns

Kenneth Kibor for Tv47 Digital July 28, 2022, 10:29 AM

In Summary

Gabriel Nyongesa's brother was nearly killed in the infamous 2007/08 post-election violence.

He says peace is an individual responsibility, thus he is willing to expend his resources to campaign for it.

The classification of Baringo as one of the 10 "election hot spots" has prompted a youthful bodaboda rider in Kabarnet town to launch a campaign for peace.

Gabriel Nyongesa, 27, popularly known as Junior Gospel, has mounted speakers and a generator onto his motorbike. He rides around the vast county, calling for a peaceful general election.

Infamous 2007/08 clashes

But what motivated him to launch the one-man peace campaign? During the infamous 2007/2008 post-election pogrom in which more than 1,000 people were killed, he witnessed his brother nearly lose his life.

Nyongesa plans his daily routine in that the morning is dedicated to running the bodaboda business [to fend for his family], while the afternoon is for the eace initiative.

Gabriel's motorcycle outfitted with loud speakers and a generator. He says preaching peace is every individual's responsibility. PHOTO | TV47 DIGITAL

He conducts the campaign at bus stops and open-air markets, preaching and singing of patriotic songs.

Asked why he uses his personal resources, Nyongesa says peace is a collective responsibility. "We should not wait for commissions set up for peace. Enhancing and preaching peace is an individual responsibility."

He says the youth should not to agree to be used by politicians to cause violence or fight their neighbours and fellow countrymen.

Besides Baringo, other "hotspots" identified by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission are Nairobi, Samburu, Nandi, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Mombasa, Narok, and Laikipia.