Battle lines over dialogue as Uhuru, Raila talk tough

Top politicians used Sunday meetings to dig in and set up an almost inevitable clash on July 7.

While the government threatened to take legal action against those it accuses of inciting the public, the Opposition was adamant that civil action will kick off on Saba Saba day to protest what it terms as government failures.

President Uhuru Kenyatta Sunday warned that his government will not compromise security and warned those he said were making inflammatory statements to watch their words.

And in Kibera, Cord leader Raila Odinga and several MPs insisted that a rally will be held on Saba Saba day if the President does not agree to national dialogue.

Saba Saba day refers to the day in 1990 when the government cracked down on activists rallying public support for the re-introduction of multi party democracy in Kenya. The occasion has largely lost significance, especially after the then Opposition took power in 2012.

Mr Odinga has been demanding a national conference to discuss what he terms rising corruption, high cost of living, insecurity, devolution and the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission, which Cord accuses of rigging the last election.

But speaking at a church service in Thika, President Kenyatta said he fears no one and that his government will deal firmly with insecurity.

“We shall stand firm, strong and courageous and rely on God as we endeavour to deliver on our promise to the people of Kenya,” he said at the African Christian Church and Schools, Thika Cathedral, where he was accompanied by 20 MPs, senators and Kiambu governor William Kabogo.

Mr Kenyatta said he will soon invite religious leaders from all faiths to a national prayer day aimed at finding lasting peace in the country.

He said the threat of terror was real and required the co-operation of all and called on Kenyans to be alert and report any threats to national security and not leave the responsibility to security agents alone.

In Kibera, Mr Odinga said his calls for dialogue were not a ruse to overthrow the government but reflect a genuine desire to address the issues facing the nation.

He criticised the summoning of Cord leaders to appear before the police to record statements on accusations of making inflammatory statements.

Siaya Senator James Orengo urged the President to respond to a letter to him by Mr Odinga as a way to start talks and avert confrontation.

“We want the President to reply to the letter Mr Odinga wrote to him directly and he should respond. We are shocked that his henchmen have been disparaging Mr Odinga and we can’t allow that,” Mr Orengo said.

Earlier in Thika, elected leaders including Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, Mr Kabogo and Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki urged the President to “crack the whip” and deal firmly with those who incite the public, including putting them behind bars.

The leaders, among them Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura, Nairobi County MPs Rachel Shebesh and Ann Nyokabi respectively, accused Mr Odinga of allegedly waging a campaign to topple the government.

“We cannot allow three or four people to incite the people and threaten our country’s security. Let them be put behind bars because that is where they belong,” Mr Kabogo said.

The leaders told the President be courageous and take his critics head-on as he has the people’s mandate.

And Deputy President William Ruto dismissed calls for mass action saying all Kenyans must strive to maintain peace in the country.

Mr Ruto at the same time asked leaders to be careful with their utterances to avoid polarising and dividing the country.

He said there was no need for the county to remain divided due to political and religious differences.

“We do not want mass action or quarrels in the country,” he said at the KICC grounds during the St John Ambulance Annual Inspection Parade where he was the chief guest.

“Let us work together for a better Kenya; we must say no to disunity and no to violence,” he said.

He announced that the government had set aside Sh50 million to support the St John Ambulance’s volunteer programmes.

He said the government was determined to reduce road carnage by 20 per cent this year.

Reported by Oliver Musembi, Isaac Ongiri and Samuel Karanja