Pressure is piling on self-installed People’s President Raila Odinga to accept President Uhuru Kenyatta as the duly elected leader for the Kenyan people.
Envoys drawn from 11 countries on Sunday in a statement told Raila that Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto are the dully elected leaders and he should recognize them.
US Ambassador Robert Godec said dialogue will only happen if opposition is cognizant of this fact.
“The Opposition needs to accept this as the basis for the dialogue that it and many Kenyans want,” read part of the statement as quoted by the Star.
Robert F. Godec (Ambassador of the United States), Nic Hailey (High Commissioner for the United Kingdom), Jutta Frasch (Ambassador of Germany), Alison Chartres (High Commissioner for Australia), Sara Hradecky (High Commissioner for Canada) signed the statement.
Others are: Mette Knudsen (High Commissioner for Denmark), Anna Jardfelt (Ambassador of Sweden), Victor Conrad Rønneberg (Ambassador of Norway), Frans Makken (Ambassador of Netherlands), Tarja Fernández (Ambassador of Finland) and Kim Ramoneda (Chargé d’Affaires a.i., France).
Raila has since January 30-when he was self-inaugurated at Uhuru Park-maintained he does not recognize Uhuru’s leadership.
NASA has several plans in play that are all geared towards challenging what they term as “illegitimate presidency” by Uhuru.
Part of the plan includes petitioning Uhuru’s victory to the United Nations in New York.
But in indirect reference to these plans, Godec said Kenya’s problems can only be solved by Kenyan political players through open, sustained and constructive dialogue.
“Only Kenyans can resolve the country’s problems. We again call for an immediate, sustained, open, and transparent National Conversation involving all Kenyans.
“We are investing in Kenya and have great hope for the future. Like all democratic countries, including our own, Kenya’s democracy is not perfect. But it can and should remain a source of strength, and an inspiration to all of us.”
The envoys registered their concern with a growing trend exhibited by ruling regime, Jubilee and the opposition where they undermine institutions.
Again, the envoys were condemning NASA’s illegal swearing-in fete for Raila while Jubilee was held in contempt for disobeying court orders.
“The ambitions of politicians are fundamentally weakening institutions, and breaking the bonds of shared citizenship, which Kenyans have built up patiently over decades,” Godec noted.
He added: “When individuals are arrested, their rights should be respected and due process followed. Citizens have the responsibility to protest non-violently, and security services should avoid the unnecessary or excessive use of force.”
Godec, however, set the record straight that they are not in any way trying to educate Kenyan leaders on how to lead their country but, “When citizens disagree with the decisions leaders make, they dissent peacefully.”