Catholic Church, Mudavadi root for peaceful polls

Njue also urged political leaders to bring Kenyans together and set an example by conducting peaceful campaigns to avoid a repeat of the 2008 post-election chaos where innocent Kenyans suffered/COURTESY

NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 6 – Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi on Monday held talks with Cardinal John Njue at the Holy Family Basilica to deliberate ways to foster peaceful campaigns and polls ahead of the next General Elections.

Speaking after the meeting, Cardinal Njue said the church will play an active role in fostering peace ahead of the elections and will pray for fair, peaceful and democratic elections next year.

Njue also urged political leaders to bring Kenyans together and set an example by conducting peaceful campaigns to avoid a repeat of the 2008 post-election chaos where innocent Kenyans suffered.

“We had fruitful deliberations with the DPM on what can be done to have peaceful elections. The Catholic Church commits itself to be at the forefront to advocate for that and we have already embarked on civic education through the Pastoral Letters”, he said.

He urged Christians in the country to play a leading role in fostering peace and coexistence in the country.

On his part, Mudavadi who intends to vie for the presidency on a United Democratic Forum (UDF) party ticket said the meetings are aimed at seeking partnership with religious leadership on fostering peace.

“I stand on the platform of peace, reconciliation and stability of the Kenyan nation and these consultations are meant to advance this course,” Mudavadi told reporters accompanied by Cardinal Njue after the meeting.

Mudavadi said UDF was consulting and lobbying various stakeholders and leaders to urge Kenyans to embrace peace before and after the elections.

“We are entering a critical phase in the country’s electoral process and that is why we are discussing and consulting with the church to foster a peaceful process and lobby the leaders to urge our people to embrace peace,” he reiterated.

Monday’s meeting comes barely a week after Mudavadi held similar talks with the Methodist Church head Bishop Stephen Kanyaru, and another one with senior officials of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK).

Mudavadi said in the 2007 General Election, the degree of tolerance within the political fraternity broke down, resulting in the post-poll violence in which Kenyans lost lives and property.

“We don’t want political violence anymore and that is why the UDF party wants to engage the religious sector to partner with the political leaders to advocate for peaceful elections and appeal to Kenyans not to turn a democratic process into cycle of violence before and after the elections,” he noted.

Gathii

Now that is mature leadership and a break from the tribal politics other so called national leaders and reformers pursue..

Boiyot

Hopefully we don’t suddenly get all the usual suspicious characters trooping to church and mosques!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kwessi-Pratt/100000996986819 Kwessi Pratt

Brother Hon. Mudavadi has so far proved that he is armed with alot of nothing indeed. His pronouncements are carbon copy of merchants of deceit. He has totally failed to inspire. All he has had to say is that we should come together to win the presidency in the first round. That Kikuyus are only good at voting for their very own, as if thats a crime! Beyond these known Odm lines, the guy is totally clueless.

To be a compromise candidate in a field of several candidates, you need to be exceptionally good. The Mudavadi is far from coming anywhere even near fair. Initial media attention on him are barely there. The press must be pretty bored with this spinless guy. Kenyans need someone who is going to bring food on the table for all. They dont need a pacifist with nothing to pacify. They need to be led by a person laden with inspirational practical ideas. Mudavai is none of that. Infact, I suspect those who were trying to front him are dangerously disappointed, if not awfully shocked!

Brother Mudavadi’s credentials are also piteous. They cant stand any shred of scrutiny. His taste for corruption too stinks. There is nothing dramatic that can truly be associated with him. Needless to say, at this late hour, he still sees things on Odm’s mirror. Forgetting that he was supposed to shake the earth under feet of every possible candidate. He has already shown that he is as hapless as a domestic cockroach. In a situation like that, he becomes a very easy candidate to defeat. In politics such a candidate is totally dangerous and unworthy of placing your bet on. Either the guy displays more better fire, or simply aborts his doomed adventure.

ObieK

How about your “village boy” you keep bragging about? Where is his curriculum vitae? We hope this time around the election board will actually have knowledge as to who the actual presidential winner will be, as opposed to that of Kivuitu who it appears must have been “bullied” to not let the voters who had exercised their civil right know the outcome. I do not think Kivuitu is that damn and did not care about the future of the country. We pray and hope that this time around our beloved Nation of Kenya will steer democratically in the right direction.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kwessi-Pratt/100000996986819 Kwessi Pratt

@Obiek: I have no qualms about my “village boy” pal. Am not arrested by tribalism like some of us. Infact, you need to read what I had posted else where on “Uhuru bags Tuju, Wamalwa and Kalonzo” just two days ago. We give credit where its due but not anything else. I certainly wont die for my tribal king!

Mzee Hon. Kivuitu was never ever bullied by anyone. And if he was, he can still say his bit. Of course, merchants of deceit, in their desperation to take over the country, tried to put words in his mouth. That was to make excuses in order to wallow neck-deep in the blood of innocent Kenyans. Kivuiti had only said that he couldnt be certain that Kibaki won fairly. Adding quickly that he wasnt on the ground to know first hand how things went. From that statement, drunken lords of deceit quickly claimed that “even electoral commission chairman didnt know who won!” The “fairness” aspect which had prompted the statement, was conveniently left out. We have seen that too many times and it wont happen again! Pretentious fellows simply claim Kenyans have said this or that, when they are only expressing their own senseless opinion. Their kinsmen in the media then quickly take cue. Within no time, we are told “most Kenyans prefer this or that!” Thats increasingly becoming thing of the past pal, mark my words.

ObieK

You remember him? This has nothing to do with your concocted “merchants of deceit”. The man was held captive/hostage, and to spare his life the only option was to comply! Please forward me his speech as to who was the rightfull winner in 2007. There must be a speech somewhere in the archives.

Enemy of the people
The disgraced ECK Boss, Samwel Kivuitu carries the blood of innocent Kenyans everywhere on his cynical face. He is the coward-of-the-nation. He does not know who won the election, yet he handed over a certificate to Emilio.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Kwessi-Pratt/100000996986819 Kwessi Pratt

Awfully sorry had not seen your stuff all this time. However, were you there when events were taking place or simply spewing the lies fed on you? I know you will cry forever trying to fake victory which was never there. Blaming people like Mzee Kivuitu only shows the depth you have fallen in to. You obviously expected him to honor your lies? But once he went by the true record, you all went wild and engaged in murderous mass action. To this day, your bitterness remains wickedly crippling. No apologies for killing innocent people, but merely pointing fingers to the wrong people. And even have the vile audacity to accuse others of your very own crimes! I have always felt sick that the commander in chief of Odm forces was never asked to account for his unforgivable wicked sins! But at some point, he will, make no mistake about it pal!