Pressure is beginning to mount on President Uhuru Kenyatta and his main challenger in the repeat polls, Raila Odinga to unlock election stalemate that has hit the country.
The elections are set for October 26.
Variuos stakeholders have articulated that the election impasse which predominantly features Uhuru and Raila could degenerate to chaos, reminiscent to 2007/08 post election violence.
Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) and Haki Africa have aired their concern over the tense political situation in the country.
COTU through its Secretary General Francis Atwoli proposed a 10-member committee made up of political veterans who will help address the issue.
According to the Star, he proposed Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji, former AG Amos Wako, Raila’s brother Oburu Oginga and former State House controller Abraham Kiptanui.
Others are Hassan ole Kamwaro, Rashid Sajjad, former Senator Zipporah Kittony, Phoebe Asiyo, Philip Masinde and former Kitui Senator David Musila.
Haki Africa through its Executive Director Hussein Khalid said its time to bring a neutral mediator form international community.
“We call on a neutral actor such as the international community to convene the dialogue and ensure all parties are engaged and brought to the table,” he said as the Star quotes
Khalid added that time for national dialogue is now. “We must emerge from this situation a stronger and united nation. The time for national dialogue is now, to save our country.”
Atwoli blamed the current Kenyan political situation on selfish politicians advancing their “masters” agenda and not the electorate’s.
“I want to remind these politicians that dialogue is not necessarily about power-sharing. All leaders should sit and deliberate on the way forward.
Let them take a break and reflect on occurrences of 2007/8 and see if that is the route they wish we take as a country,” added he.
Both Khalid and Atwoli decried the economy has been dealt a blow by the current political turmoil in the country.
“We have already seen a number of shops close and many cancellations in business tenders. Many investors are turning away because there is no guarantee importers will pay following the political tension,” said Atwoli.
But a group of MPs attending the ACP-EU global meeting of parliamentarians told the delegation at EU Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium that there is no constitutional crisis in Kenya.
“Kenya has over the years built great resilience in her governance institutions and democratic traditions. Following recent political developments, the country now awaits further advice from the IEBC as well as the judiciary on the next course of action,” Kigump MP Ruth Maniki told the delegation at the meeting.