Moses Kuria seeks meeting with UN boss over protests

An MP has written to the head of the United Nations accusing Opposition leaders of leading protests that are "a threat to peace and security".

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria wrote to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday, requesting a meeting to discuss what he termed as threats posed by CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang'ula. 

In his letter, Mr Kuria said he wanted to meet the UN boss to brief him on Kenya's situation including what he says are efforts by Opposition leader Raila Odinga to "destroy institutions" through protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Kuria has accused the former Prime Minister of setting up the country for violence and seeking to be in Government through the backdoor. "The purpose of requesting a meeting with you is to help you understand how electoral reforms can be carried out in Kenya through the laid down legislative mechanisms as provided for by the Kenyan Constitution...Odinga's intention is to be in Government through the backdoor and if we allow this to continue, we will be killing our growing democracy," the letter reads in part.

"We fully concur that the electoral commission's leadership must be broadly acceptable but we fully believe that this can be achieved through dialogue and within our Constitution. As Kenyan citizens, we have a responsibility to build trust in our democratic system and to find ways to ensure the electoral and judicial institutions are strong and effective. We need to strengthen institutions, not destroy them," Kuria said in his letter.

Should the controversial MP be granted his wish, he plans to tell Mr Ban that the Opposition-led protests are a recipe for disaster in the 2017 elections and that their organisers should be stopped in their tracks. He also plans to tell him that Raila and former President Mwai Kibaki played key roles in appointing the current IEBC commissioners.

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"What Raila is doing is to destroy Kenyan institutions that he played a great role in setting up. We all know he is not after any electoral reforms but is using the same to set the stage for confrontational and divisive politics that may most likely breed violence in 2017, with the hope that he will get sympathy from the international community and force another power-sharing agreement," the letter reads.

"..We are aware of their constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and petition but are getting concerned on the nature, process, procedure and the outcome of those protests. The protests are each day turning violent and are slowly dividing Kenyans along tribal and political lines. They are at best threatening the fragile unity that Kenyans enjoy today," reads the letter.

The letter is the latest onslaught against the Opposition, which has, however, vowed to go on with the protests.
Kuria has given a long litany of 'sins' of omission and commission that Raila has allegedly committed in his political career and claims that he has been emboldened by the collapse of the International Criminal Court against alleged perpetrators of the 2007-2008 post election violence.
"Now that the cases are over, we are seeing the true Raila doing what he does best, incite masses, cause intolerance, discredit institutions, brew hatred and cause political intolerance," he said.