US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec has backed the National Super Alliance’s (NASA) decision to challenge Presidential election results at the Supreme Court.
In a statement on Thursday, he said NASA has followed the right channel to end the impasse.
“The United States, as a long-time friend, continues to follow closely Kenya’s presidential election process. This is the constitutional avenue to address disputes,” said the Ambassador as quoted by the Star.
NASA Chief and Presidential candidate Raila Odinga on Wednesday declared he will contest the results at the Supreme Court.
His pronouncement came as a surprise since he had earlier said he will not go to court but will leave the matter in the court of public opinion.
Godec however, regretted that several lives have been lost in the past week due to poll violence.
He said every Kenyans has a right to demonstrate without security forces exerting excess force which ends up killing innocent civilians.
“Let police sent out to calm opposition protests avoid using excessive force and to protect lives and property. Let the protesters also remain peaceful and abide by the law,” he urged.
Godec further castigated NGO Coordination Board for recent attacks on AfriCOG and KHRC.
The two NGOs had been banned by the Board led by Mohammed Fazul. However, Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang’i suspended the ban for 90 days pending review of their compliance status.
“We welcome the decision by the Kenyan government to reverse this action and urge that the reversal be fully implemented immediately,” he said.
He also underscored the need to have civil society operate independently, transparently and free from harassment by the government.
“All Kenyans have the responsibility to work to bring their country together, reject violence and embrace the rule of law.”
By Pharis Kinyua. He’s an online journalist and an author with Jamhuri News