Uhuru, Ruto reject Cord dialogue calls

President Uhuru Kenyatta appeared to pour cold water on Cord leader Raila Odinga’s call for national dialogue on Sunday, saying that Jubilee was not interested in political theatrics.

“We cannot spend all the time as a country politicking as if we are in an election period when we concluded elections a long time ago,” Mr Kenyatta said a day after he and Mr Odinga met at the burial of General Jackson Mulinge, where the Cord leader reiterated his call for talks between government and opposition leaders.

Mr Kenyatta told a funds drive at the AIC Baraka Church in Trans Nzoia County that Jubilee was keen on fulfilling its pre-election pledges to the electorate.

“We need each other in the development of this country. My government is not interested in who voted for me or who didn’t because it is not of importance at this stage,” he said.

He challenged governors not to fall prey to divisive politics and urged them to develop good working relations with the national government for the sake of development as called for in the Constitution.

“My government intends to set up a countrywide programme that will see all health facilities equipped. Can we achieve this without proper coordination?” he asked.

And in Ongata Rongai, Deputy President William Ruto said the Opposition was free to hold rallies pressing for national dialogue but the meetings will not derail government programmes.

Speaking at St Mary’s Catholic Church, where he attended Mass, Mr Ruto said no leader was elected by mistake and those in office should focus on developing Kenya instead of wasting time politicking.

“The President and I are ready to work with ODM and other leaders who are not part of Jubilee. The leaders in political office were elected by the people of Kenya,” he said.

Charles Nyachae

At another fundraiser, the chairman of the Constitution Implementation Commission, Mr Charles Nyachae, added his voice to the debate, cautioning Opposition leaders against attempts to sabotage the Constitution in their effort to have dialogue with the government.

“We are behaving as if there is no Constitution in this country,” he said. “There is the National Assembly and the Senate to spearhead any dialogue that some people are clamouring for. If they do not take on this responsibility, which  is constitutionally theirs, then Kenyans will ask whether we need them,” he said at the SDA Rimpa Church in Ongata Rongai.

He warned that seeking other avenues to resolve national issues was a recipe for chaos.

At the same meeting, the Deputy President presented Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye to the church members and said his collaboration with the local leader was proof that he was willing to work with ODM and other opposition leaders.

On Saturday, the chairman of the Council of Governors Isaac Ruto and former health minister Paul Sang asked President Kenyatta and his deputy not to dismiss the calls for national dialogue.

The Bomet governor and the former Bureti MP said it was important for leaders, regardless of their political affiliations, to consult on various issues of national importance and chart a common front of solving them.

“The calls for dialogue between the ruling elite and the Opposition should not be dismissed wholesale,” Mr Ruto said at the Bomet Green Stadium where he presided over the launch of the Kalenjin Musicians Association.

And other political leaders, including Busia Senator Amos Wako, Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, Funyula MP Paul Otuoma and his Matayos counterpart, Mr Geoffrey Odanga, renewed their calls to President Kenyatta to give dialogue a chance because it was the only avenue to address problems like high cost of living, insecurity and unemployment.

They also reiterated their support for the Saba Saba rally that Cord has planned for July 7.

However, TNA Secretary-General Onyango Oloo said the party was not opposed to the engaging the Opposition in talks but such talks should be done within Parliament.

Mr Oloo and nominated Senator Joy Gwendo said the National Assembly and the Senate were better placed to handle the issues raised by Cord and Mr Odinga.

Additional reporting by DPPS