Solve conflicts amicably, Ndingi urges principals

By Ally Jamah and Anderson Ojwang’

Retired Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki has called on President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to amicably solve their political differences.

"What can be done today, let it be done because tomorrow might be too late," he said.

Ndingi urged political leaders to be people of actions and not empty rhetoric.

"Wawe watu wa matendo sio wakupiga domo tu, (They must act and not merely talk)," he said.

He was addressing Catholics at St Paul’s Church, Nairobi, where he delivered a Sunday sermon.

Ndingi said rifts in the Coalition Government must be solved by Kenyans themselves without involving foreigners.

Signed agreement

And in Eldoret, other religious leaders urged coalition partners to adhere to the agreement signed by the two principals to avert chaos.

They said should the two principals fail to agree, Parliament should step in and give the country political direction.

Catholic Bishop Cornelius Korir said President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga must agree to go back to the drawing board and resolve their differences.

"The people did their part and the two leaders have to agree and open a new political chapter to Kenyans. They are mature and should they fail, we will look upon Parliament to chart the way forward out of this standoff," said Korir.

Speaking on the telephone, Korir said coalition partners must adhere to the agreement signed and accept and respect each other.

Raila told The Standard on Saturday of his predicament and how he was being undermined by ministers allied to PNU.

A stand-off has ensued between the two coalition partners, with the Prime Minister hitting at the leadership style of President Kibaki as "jua kali".

Church leaders led by the National Council of Churches of Kenya have in the past few weeks called for fresh elections, citing failure by leaders to agree on reform measures.

Ndingi said Kenyans should "pray unceasingly" to find solutions to the challenges facing the country after the 2007 General Election.