Africa-Press – Kenya. Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua spent Sunday morning with worshippers at St. Francis ACK church in Karen.
Speaking to the congregation, Raila called for peace and patience as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) continues with tallying of presidential votes.
This was Odinga’s first public address since the August 9 election and he took the moment to lobby Kenyans to remain calm amid chaos and drama witnessed at the National Tallying Centre at the Bomas of Kenya.
He quoted that prayer of St Francis where the Saint seeks wisdom and strength from God to b equipped with exceptional character in ties of great challenges.
“Lord, make us instruments of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, a union where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy,” Raila prayed.
“We want to thank the Lord for having brought us so far, through election campaigns… elections have been peaceful so far; we hope this peace will prevail even after elections,” he added.
Further, he told his supporters that they have reached the promised land as he urged them to remain cool, calm and collected.
“We (Azimio) want to take our people across River Jordan into Canaan; we hope we’ll be able to enjoy life in Canaan,” he stated.
Raila’s words come amid a night of chaos at the Bomas where an IEBC official was roughed up and multiple people escorted out of the auditorium by anti-riot police.
Azimio chief agent took issue with the events that unfolded inside the auditorium, making a strongly worded statement to the media regarding the credibility of the tallying process thus far.
Odinga’s chief agent Saitabao Ole Kanchory had clashed with police who had denied him access to the tallying area.
A separate scuffle ensued and disrupted IEBC officials at the verification tables but commissioner Francis Wanderi directed them to resume their work.
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