President Uhuru Kenyatta warns against divisive politics

President Uhuru Kenyatta         PHOTO: COURTESY

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has taken on opposition leaders warning them that the State will not accept statements that may divide the country.

And the Head of State declared he had legitimate mandate to govern for a five-year term and those with alternative agenda should wait for elections.

Uhuru said that although the Constitution gives them right of expression, they should not resort to statements that are likely to create animosity and hatred among communities.

He recalled that Kenya had experienced its darkest days with the 2007-8 post-election violence, which he attributed to reckless statements by leaders that polarised the country along ethnic lines.

“We don’t want to go back to where we were in 2007-8 and you all know it’s careless statements from leaders, which took us there,” Uhuru said at Kikuyu town, after attending a thanksgiving service at the Alliance High School yesterday.

The President told off Senators Bonni Khalwale and Moses Wetang’ula who faced off with him on Saturday during a rally in Bungoma.

Uhuru scoffed at his critics saying the time for politicking is over and they should wait for five years to sell their alternative agenda to the people.

“They can say what they want to say but they should know I am the one ruling now and they can’t stop me from implementing my manifesto. I am telling them to wait for five years and come to the people, but in any case, they won’t even make it,” said the President.

“We have come a long way from the violence that rocked this country in 2008, which was caused by similar incitement, and we do not want to go back there” he said.

Freedom of expression

He said there is freedom of speech, but politicians should not incite Kenyans against each other.

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo accused Dr Khalwale and Mr Wetang’ula of showing contempt for the President, as their actions were tantamount to ridiculing him.

“You cannot take to a podium and ridicule the President. If you don’t respect the President, please at least show some respect for the institution of the Presidency,” Mr Kabogo said.

The President also defended his decision to empower county commissioners in spite of criticism from Governors and the opposition.

He said it was ironical that governors have been allowed to recruit officers who will enable them to serve their people yet they were opposed to him having representatives.

Uhuru accused CORD leaders of living in the past saying they had misinterpreted the roles of the county commissioners. He added that this is not the old order where the provincial administration used to harass the public.

“We are living in a new constitutional dispensation and it appears those talking have not woken up to that, maybe that is how they intended to use the provincial administration were they to be elected,” he added.

The President once again cautioned the county administrators against misusing the new powers saying the State would not hesitate to sack them and employ those who were ready to serve citizens.

Earlier, Uhuru visited Alliance Girls, where he opened a new modern dormitory with capacity for 630 students.

The dormitory, which has rooms that accommodate two students, was built at the cost of Sh130 million with expert services for free by parents of the students.

Speaking to the girls, the President said the Government was focused on changing the place of women in the Kenyan society.

He said women hold prominent positions in his Government and cited the example of Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.

“She is doing a good job and we are proud of her work,” he said. The President also cited Lands CS Charity Ngilu who is an alumni of Alliance girls.

“She is cleaning up all the corrupt practices that men have brought to the Ministry of Lands,” he said.

He also commended Devolution CS Anne Waiguru for steering the process, which has seen powers to the counties transferred in less than a year instead of three years.

The President said Environment, Water and Natural Resources CS Judy Wakhungu is also doing a good job.