-Edited by SKanyara
Africa-Press – Kenya. The Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics Trust has urged President William Ruto and his political rival Raila Odinga to stop further aggression and give dialogue a chance.
The clerics said the past two weeks saw Kenya diving back into a period of violence that interfered with positive growth.
They called on Kenyans to embrace unity, saying that problems facing the country are common and thus require only a common approach to address them.
“We wish to express our gratitude to the President and the opposition leader for accepting to give dialogue an opportunity instead of continuing with aggression. The two leaders on Sunday blessed our evening with a message of acceptance for dialogue to address the challenges faced,” said Bishop Aabarijah Kiongoah, secretary general of the CICC board.
President Ruto on Sunday proposed a bipartisan parliamentary approach to resolve the demands that had been raised by the Azimio la Umoja Coalition, including in the formation of the new electoral body.
However, on Tuesday Raila said the parliamentary approach might not address their issues, and proposed the formation of a team akin to the Kofi Annan-led 2008 National Accord negotiation team that led to the grand coalition government of former President Mwai Kibaki and Raila as Prime Minister.
The Kenya Kwanza leaders have insisted that discussion will only be guided by the constitution. They have said they will not allow Raila to join the government through the ‘back door’.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Coast clerics urged the opposition leader to embrace a selfless attitude when trying to address the issues of concern to the country.
The clerics also asked the Raila team to employ less violent strategies as advocacy for the course of the citizen.
“This country belongs to all of us and we all have a collective responsibility to keep and protect it. Attacking one another threatens our existence for we have no other place to call home,” Kiongoah said.
They urged President Ruto to uphold and protect the constitution and give all Kenyans priority.
They urged him to employ both short- and long-term initiatives to arrest the high cost of living affecting the country to ensure all Kenyans have equal access to basic needs.
They were speaking during a press conference at their offices in Nyali, Mombasa.
The leaders also implored Kenyans to promote peace and co-existence that will enhance trust building and avoid hatred among them.
They said Kenyan politicians since time immemorial have exhibited selfishness and thus there was a need for Kenyans to counter this negative energy by embracing each other in genuine love as prescribed by the holy books.
“Keep off the spirit of selfishness that affects our politicians and together demonstrate our love for one another as Kenyans,” he said.
The clerics also condoled with the families of Kenyans who lost their lives during the anti-government demonstrations and also apologised to people whose businesses were destroyed.
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