US ambassador and 11 EU envoys call for Jubilee, CORD dialogue over IEBC

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Chairman Abdulghafur El-Busaidy (right) and Organising Secretary Shariff Hussein address the press in Nairobi Tuesday. [PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD]

Diplomats and religious leaders have urged an end to violence and pressed for dialogue to resolve the impasse on the election commission.

Ambassadors drawn from 12 Western countries yesterday urged the Government to hold talks with the Opposition over the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to avert more violence.

Their statement, which came a day after three people were shot dead during clashes between Opposition protesters and the police, also denounced the use of excessive force by security forces.

They demanded officers who shot protesters be brought to book and also urged picketers to hold peaceful demonstrations.

“Violence will not resolve the issues regarding the future of the IEBC or ensure the 2017 elections are free and credible. We strongly urge all Kenyans to come together to de-escalate the situation and resolve their differences, taking every opportunity for inclusive dialogue. Kenyans should talk, and any compromise must be implemented in accord with Kenya’s Constitution and the rule of law. As partners, we stand ready to support such a dialogue in any way that is useful,” read a joint statement by the envoys.

Eldoret Catholic Diocese Bishop Cornelius Korir also called on political leaders to give dialogue a chance to end the stalemate.

He also urged the police to refrain from harming peaceful protesters.

“As church leaders, we are asking for reason to prevail. Our appeal is that the protests should be postponed to give dialogue a chance,” said Bishop Korir, who is a member of a team that has held talks with Opposition leaders and IEBC officials and is scheduled to meet the Government side.

And 10 clergymen from Nyanza led by Archbishop Washington Ogonyo Ngede appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto to hold talks with the Opposition to end violence.

WE WANT PEACE

“We don’t want war in Kenya, we want peace. Embracing dialogue will help in unlocking the stalemate currently witnessed over the issue of the IEBC. Let our leaders come together to save Kenya from a chaotic situation,” said Archbishop Ngede on behalf of the clerics.

Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) urged the Government and the Opposition to drop their hard-line positions for the sake of the country.

“The weekly violence and chaos is giving Kenya negative publicity internationally and may even hurt the economy. Dialogue is the only way to resolve the matter,” said Supkem Chairman Abdulghafur El-Busaidy.

The envoys said they were “deeply concerned by the escalation of violence” during Monday’s demonstrations against the IEBC.

Their statement was signed by US Envoy Robert F. Godec, United Kingdom High Commissioner Nic Hailey, Australia High Commissioner John Feake, Belgium Ambassador Roxane de Bilderling, Canada High Commissioner David Angell, Denmark Ambassador Mette Knudsen, European Union Ambassador Stefano-Antonio Dejak, France Ambassador Remi Marechaux, Germany Ambassador Jutta Frasch, Norway Ambassador Victor Rønneberg, Netherlands Ambassador Frans Makken and Sweden Ambassador Johan Borgstam.

Earlier, the US, British, Danish and Swedish ambassadors had taken to social media to condemn the killings during Monday’s demonstrations against the IEBC.