Western diplomats call for urgent solution to Kenyan political stalemate
GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: Foreign diplomats in Nairobi have called for an urgent solution to the ongoing political standoff between the government and opposition in Kenya.
This comes even as opposition leader Raila Odinga is expected to lead his supporters in another wave of protests today despite the government maintaining that the demonstrations are illegal.
The diplomats said that an urgent truce should be arrived at to avert further damage to private property from the protests even though they agreed that the dispute over last year’s election outcome had been legally resolved.
The American Embassy, Australia, Canada, the British High Commission, and a number of European Union member states however ruled out the demands from the opposition group for a re-check of servers at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission over rigging claims.
“We agree with the African Union Commission chairperson in recalling the successful conduct of the general elections in 2022, and the unanimous confirmation of their results by the Supreme Court,” the missions said in a statement.
The opposition coalition which has been leading protests in Nairobi, Kisumu, and parts of Kenya’s Western region where Mr. Odinga enjoys massive support is also calling on the government to address the rising cost of living and to reconstitute members of the country’s electoral commission.
Mr. Odinga has also criticized the country’s Supreme Court which declared William Ruto as the legitimate president as being biased in its ruling.
The court dismissed Mr. Odinga’s evidence against the electoral commission declaration, terming it as “hot air”, prompting the opposition coalition to demand that the servers be opened for further scrutiny.
African Union chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat added voice to calls for calm in Kenya, saying continued hard stance by both sides will only exasperate the situation.
“The Chairperson urges all stakeholders to exercise calm and engage in dialogue to address any differences that may exist in the supreme interest of national unity and reconciliation,” Faki said.
- By Fauxile Kibet