President Uhuru responsible for ‘bloody Mondays’ chaos, says Mudavadi

Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi has said President Uhuru Kenyatta will be sorely held responsible if current impasse on IEBC degenerates into full-blown ethnic conflict.

He said the continued standoff as a result of evasion to initiate dialogue over IEBC by the President, police excessive use of force to disperse protesters and threats of counter protests by Jubilee will degenerate into unmanageable security issue.

“I am concerned about the heightened tension prior to elections. I personally think the president should act, take it more seriously to prevent this from becoming an insecurity issue. The president should take up the lead on IEBC matters; he has a responsibility to protect the constitution whose sovereignty resides in the people. This hands-off stand must end,” said the ANC leader.

Mudavadi said the government should realize that the protests are against IEBC, not Jubilee and listen to dissenting voices. The president can initiate a political process that will bring people together warring parties.

“Even IEBC has the gauntlet and acknowledged that changes must be brought through a political negotiation. Protests arise when one side is not listening to the other. The president and his team are alone on insisting on a legal process that should come at the tail end of dialogue on changes,” he said.

Mudavadi condemned police brutality and disruption on normal life saying street protests are constitutional.

“The right to protest is deeply enshrined in our constitution. Any group protesting is well within their rights. We expect the police to provide security to protestors so there’s no damage to life or property,” he said.