Uhuru Kenyatta criticises CORD rally

Master Samuel Nyutu (left) during the burial of his father Gatungu South MP Joseph Ngugi at their home in Nembu Mutati, Kiambu County

Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto have accused CORD of prematurely whipping the country into an election mood.

Speaking during the funeral of Gatundu South MP Joseph Nyumu, in Nembu Mutati, Kiambu County, the two urged the Opposition to help maintain peace and security in the country.

 “We want peace in our country. Our aim is to unite the country and enable the people improve their livelihoods in a peaceful environment,” said the President.

He said that the Opposition leaders should be patient and wait for the next General Election, instead of whipping the country into a political campaign atmosphere.

“From independence, we have never failed to hold an election. Work with us to transform the country in the meantime. Five years is not a long time. Let people wait since Kenya is a democratic state, and not a dictatorship,” Kenyatta told mourners.

Nyumu, 45, died on May 21 after collapsing at his Runda home. He leaves behind a widow and two sons.

During the ceremony, it emerged the late MP had a premonition of his death. Gatanga MP, Humphrey Njuguna who was a close friend of the MP revealed that Nyumu talked of his death on the last Sunday before he passed on.

“The Sunday before he died, we spent time together at the Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi. In the course of our conversation, He told me that he would slaughter a goat for both of us, but that if he died before that happened, I should take care of all the arrangements,” the MP said.

Polarise the country

Ruto reiterated that the Jubilee coalition will not be shaken by threats by the Opposition leaders.

“I have an agreement with the president. The agreement is that Kenya will never again walk the path of polarisation and tribalism. We meant it and we mean it even now,” he said.

The two leaders made stop-overs at various points on their way from the funeral and addressed the public. Others who addressed the mourners were National Assembly Majority Leader Adan Duale and his Senate counterpart Kithure Kindiki.

Prof Kindiki called for the arrest of people intent on destabilising the country. In apparent reference to CORD he accused the Opposition of seeking to polarise the country through the expected political rally today. “I’m very worried at the way some people returning from holiday want to polarise the country. In 2005, a process began in this country that led to bloodshed. We should avoid that route. Let anybody who wants to cause bloodshed be jailed,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Government backed down on what was boiling to be a nasty confrontation between the police and opposition supporters by lifting an earlier ban on all political gatherings.

The change of heart came after a meeting between Inspector General of Police (IG) David Kimaiyo and CORD co-principal Moses Wetangula, Siaya Senator James Orengo and former National Assembly deputy speaker Farah Maalim on Wednesday.

CORD is planning a major rally at Uhuru Park dedicated to welcome former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who has been in the US for close to three months.