Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top

Kenya

NCCK now demands fresh elections

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 – The National Council of Churches of Kenya on Wednesday called for fresh elections to replace what they term as ‘a failed Coalition Government’.

In a communiqué read by Secretary General Canon Peter Karanja the council said the country was in a leadership crisis as President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had failed in their respective roles.

The council also accused the 10th Parliament of turning into a selfish dictatorial arm far removed from their roles and the needs of Kenyans.

“For they have failed, Kenyans have a right to ask our politicians to seek for a fresh mandate from us then we can choose those we think can take care of our interests properly,” he said.

The church leaders accused the President of remaining silent as Kenyans continued to suffer while the Premier has remained ineffective.

“The President can not go round threatening to sack errant Ministers when he has powers to sack. Kenyans would want to see more action rather than rhetoric,” he said referring to Tuesday’s warning by the President where he called on dissatisfied Ministers to quit or face the sack.

“The Prime Minister cannot join the rest of Kenyans grumbling that government ministries are not delivering when he has the responsibility to supervise. Out here we cannot help him; he should get down and do his job.”

Cabinet Ministers have in the recent past accused each other of inefficiency and corruption as realignment for 2012 elections take centre stage.

Coalition partners – the Party of National Unity and Orange Democratic Movement – have also engaged in power wrangles. In his warning the President told the Ministers to rather focus on the development agenda.

Canon Karanja said the Coalition Government has failed to address the plight of Kenyans singling out corruption, raging famine, unemployment problems and integration as crucial issues the government had abdicated.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The council accused the coalition government of failing to institute necessary reforms including full implementation of the Waki Commission report into Post Election Violence.

In response the council launched a campaign to collect over one million signatures to petition Chief Mediator Kofi Annan to make public the names of suspected financiers and planners of post election violence and kick-start prosecutions at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“We should waste no more time, but proceed promptly to seek prosecution at the Hague as clearly indicated in the Waki recommendations,” Canon Karanja said adding that the council hoped to collect the signatures within two weeks.

The signatures, he said, will be sent to Mr Annan and ICC alongside a petition. 

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News