We've been sidelined in Uhuru-Raila unity team, say Muslims and elders

North Rift Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya chairman Sheikh Abubakar Bini (centre) addresses the Press in Eldoret on April 30, 2018. They want Muslims to be included in the national dialogue team spearheading reconciliation. PHOTO | WYCLIFF KIPSANG | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Building Bridges Initiative secretariat is co-chaired by Ambassador Martin Kimani and lawyer Paul Mwangi.
  • The elders termed the team, unveiled by President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, non-representative, political and one that will not have a practical impact on the country.
  • The elders said the team does not represent the face of the country and insisted the appointments are political and cannot spearhead national healing.

The Rift Valley Council of Elders and Muslim leaders from the  North Rift have faulted a 14-member team unveiled to spearhead national unity.

The elders termed the team, unveiled by President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, non-representative, political and one that will not have a practical impact on the country.

Led by the council’s chairman Gilbert Kabage, the elders singled out what they said was the sidelining of Deputy President William Ruto from the talks, terming it selfish. They said from the look of it, the historic March 9 handshake did not have good intentions.

“Why would the Deputy President be sidelined if it was for the sake of the nation? We are not happy. The Rift Valley is behind Mr Ruto,” said Mr Kabage who was speaking in Nakuru town yesterday when the elders met to discuss the state of the nation.

PROBLEMS

Mr Kabage, who was accompanied by other elders including the council’s secretary Peter Charagu, said since the meeting between the President and Mr Odinga, the Head of State has warmed up to Mr Odinga and silently appeared to “divorce the DP”. “The President’s advisers should offer wise advice to him so that this country does not plunge into problems. Kenyans want solutions to killer floods, hunger and poor services in hospitals,” said Mr Kabage.

The elders said the team does not represent the face of the country and insisted the appointments are political and cannot spearhead national healing.

In Eldoret, the North Rift Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) chairman Sheikh Abubakar Bini yesterday said Muslims had been sidelined in the peace pact.

“We support the good intentions of President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga to unite Kenyans irrespective of their tribal or ethnic affiliation. But as it is now, the team lacks the face of Kenya in terms of religious representation as it only has Christians,” said the cleric.

He added: “We will not support this as Muslim leaders. Is this bringing together Kenyans or dividing them?”.

BALANCED

This came as Mr Odinga’s ODM has described the team as “balanced and sober”. “The team is good. It has low level of personal ambition, which means that it is less polarising and committed to enhancing cohesion if given the required cooperation,” said ODM chairman John Mbadi.

Mr Mbadi, who is also the Suba South MP, said the team has a mixed blend of elders, academicians, the clergy and professionals, and therefore, has what it takes to deliver on its mandate.

“Definitely the issues raised in the MoUs like electoral justice among others will require constitutional change,” he said adding, “changes to the constitution are inevitable.”

In Parliament, Senate deputy minority leader Cleophas Malala and Butere MP Tindi Mwale, both of Amani National Congress party, said the team should also include the youth.

“It is demoralising that the two respected leaders did not deem it fit to include youths in the unity team. Whereas I welcome the reconciliatory tone, I call upon the two leaders to consider including the youth in their team,” said Mr Malala.

CHANGE

The Kakamega senator said the calls for constitutional change were inevitable as “we should audit the supreme document”.

Mr Mwale said: “We have said if they do not listen to us, we will form a parallel youth committee to champion the healing and reconciliation agenda.”

The team unveiled on Sunday includes Busia Senator Amos Wako, his Garissa counterpart Yusuf Haji, University of Nairobi don Adams Oloo, Ms Agnes Kavindu, Ms Florence Omose, Prof Saeed Mwangumi, Mr James Matundura and Major (rtd) John Seii.

Others are Bishop (retired) Lawi Imathiu of Methodist Church, Samburu woman representative Maison Leshomo and her Makueni colleague Rose Moseu, Mr Morompi ole Ronkai, Bishop Peter Njenga and Catholic Bishop of the Archdiocese of Kisumu Zacheus Okoth.

REFERENDUM

Mr Seii is the chairman of the Kalenjin Myoot Council of Elders, with Mr Matundura chairing the Kisii Council of Elders while Bishop Imathiu is a one-time chairman of the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru Association.

Elsewhere, Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama has claimed Mr Ruto is being targeted in the clamour for constitutional change aimed at among other things to introduce the Office of the Prime Minister and two assistants.

“The Constitution we are using was born after a referendum. Mr Odinga then supported it and it was promulgated. It is too early to amend it,” said Mr Arama. “We already decided that we will support only William Ruto.”

 Reported by Peter Mburu, Mercy Koskey, Wycliffe Kipsang, David Mwere and Patrick Lang’at