Opposition calls on United Nations to intervene in IEBC impasse

The Opposition now wants the international community to intervene in the electoral crisis to avert another round of political violence.

CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula, and Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat said the United Nations must hold the Jubilee government to account for the killings of three protesters during Monday’s demonstrations.

The Opposition warned that the country risks going through political instability should their concerns not be addressed before next year’s General Election.

They said the same electoral fraud and malpractices that caused the 2007-2008 violence were the issues they want addressed.

“The issues of election fraud and malpractice that led to the mayhem and conflict are the genesis for the current conflict,” the leaders said in a statement read by Senator Wetang’ula.

He added: “It is evident that unless these issues are addressed now before any other General Election, Kenya will be thrown into another cycle of civil disorder and political instability.”

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CUSTODIAN OF RIGHTS

UN as the custodian of human rights, they said, should stop operating as if things were normal, and instead hold the Government to account for the continuous violation of human rights.

“We urge the UN as the custodian of human rights to call the Jubilee government to account. The UN should not continue conducting its affairs in Kenya in the business-as-usual manner; in a country that is violating its obligation under the United Nations Charter,” added the statement.

The Opposition spoke in the wake of reports that three people were shot dead by the police during Monday’s anti-IEBC protests.

Raila said the police officer captured in last week’s protest beating and stamping on a protester should be charged with murder.

He said some of the officers who maimed and killed people in 2007 were still serving in the police service, and were reason why the police continue to brutalise protesters.

And the Amani National Congress (ANC) party has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to initiate dialogue with the Opposition to end the standoff, which is threatening to degenerate into a crisis.

The party said the rising political temperatures were a recipe for another round of political violence.