PM warns of rising ethnicity ahead of polls

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday raised the red flag on rising ethnic animosities as the country totters to another presidential election.

Mr Odinga warned that if ethnicity is not discussed openly and candidly, the situation is bound to worsen as elections draw closer.

Mr. Odinga was delivering a key note address at the People’s Conference on National Diversity, Race and Ethnicity hosted by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) at the Kenyatta International Conference centre.

The PM urged leaders who are vying for high offices to shun ethnic-based politics and compete for power on the basis of credentials, policies and ideologies.

He said it was unfortunate that Kenyan politicians have used competitive political process to discourage unity and stir up ethnic emotions.

“We have tried to nurture an excuse that political competition does not and cannot encourage unity,” he said.

Mr Odinga called on Kenyans to stand up against such practices, adding some people have tried to create an impression that the search for justice amounts to a threat to stability.

“We must ensure that our competitive politics can and must be made to facilitate cohesion. We must ensure that vested interests are submerged into common interest. Only then shall we move forward in single formation with single purpose to make Kenya a better place for all of us to live,” he said.

Mr Odinga emphasized that Kenyans must march into the future not as tribes, races or select grouping of people but as Kenyans.

He emphasized that any risk of a repeat of the 2008 post election violence must be removed, and asked the conference to agree on concrete actions that the government , the civil society, religious and local leaders will undertake to put the nation on the path to unity.

The PM stated that the path to a secure future is in strict adherence to the constitution, adding the constitutional clauses that affirm ethnic diversity, protect marginalized communities and provide equal opportunity must be the guiding pillars.

He pointed out that the implementation of the leadership and integrity clauses of the constitution was important in enhancing national cohesion, adding integrity among leaders will earn them and the government respect.

Mr Odinga said it was important that Kenyans genuinely participate in the political processes, noting this will in turn make Kenyans come together as one nation.

In this regard, the PM urged members of parliament to review the public finance management bill that is currently before Parliament, noting it prescribes how financial resources are shared between the national government and the county governments.

He at the same time challenged the NCIC to fully deliver on its mandate, saying it must be above reproach and its credibility as a non-partisan institution must be beyond doubt.

“NCIC must never bury its intentions in verbiage, legalese and semantics. You have to be candid, loud, clear and yet fair and just,” he stressed.