Top Kenyan musicians team up on peace song

Titled ‘Only Love/Upendo Wa Kenya’, the song features big names in Kenyan music including Sauti Sol, Mercy Masika, Evelyn Wanjiru, Size 8, Khaligraph Jones, Samidoh, Wyre, Trio Mio, Nviiri The Storyteller and Bensoul.

The song was produced in conjunction with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) for the ECES Pro-Peace Kenya project funded by the European Union.

Pro-Peace Kenya supports NCIC interventions and seeks to prevent election-related conflict and violence during electoral cycles starting from August 2022 and beyond.

The project builds on the collaborating partners’ work to promote peace and cohesion in Kenya. It also aims to prevent and mitigate conflict and electoral-related violence, and build trust, inclusion and cohesion as laid down in the Road Map of Peaceful Elections 2022 report published by the NCIC.

ECES founder and executive director Fabio Bargiacchi said: “We are so proud to have supported the production of this song and the video during the 9 August 2022 general elections period amid the unfolding tense atmosphere witnessed in the pre-electoral environment and the conduct of the polls, which has now been concluded with the Supreme Court upholding the outcome.

“This song continues to champion peace and cohesion among Kenyans even as we urge all stakeholders to continue promoting peaceful participation of citizens before, during and after elections.”