Retired President Daniel arap Moi has called on President Uhuru Kenyatta and National Super Alliance (Nasa) Raila Odinga to maintain peace during the August 8 elections.

The country is currently in a state of heightened tension by the increased political rhetoric made by the country’s top leadership coming from both the ruling Jubilee administration as well as the opposition Nasa.

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In a speech read by his son Gideon during the ground breaking ceremony of a Sh45 billion teaching, research and referral mission hospital at Kabarak University, Moi appealed to political leaders and all Kenyans to maintain peace as the country heads to the elections which is only 54 days away.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his main challenger Raila Odinga have already pledged to run peaceful campaigns in their battle for State House.

Last week during a national address from State House, Eldoret, Kenyatta promised to hand over the reins of power if he loses in August elections and urged the opposition to do the same should the same thing happen to them.

President Kenyatta called on all contestants to be at the forefront of preaching peaceful co-existence.

“Kenyans are still suffering from the tragic consequences of the 2007/2008 post-election violence. We, as leaders, should desist from utterances which may create ethnic suspicions,” said Mr Kenyatta.

Raila on the other hand, this week signed a peace pledge during the National Elections Conference hosted by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in Nairobi.