Preach peace and unite country, Raila, Kalonzo tell the clergy

By Rawlings Otieno

NAIROBI, KENYA: Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka have challenged the clergy to preach unity and remain united during the electioneering period.

The two noted this would help the country avoid recurrence of post-election violence.

Raila accused those propagating negative ethnicity of living in dark ages.

He said if elected, his CORD alliance would ensure that the Constitution is implemented, especially Chapter Four, which deals with the Bill of Rights.

“We in the CORD Alliance believe in the principle of being Kenyans. Those still campaigning on the platform of ‘mtu wetu’ (our person) are living in the dark ages and should be shunned by the electorate,” said the PM.

Exodus from Egypt

Addressing church leaders during a roundtable meeting in Nairobi on Monday, the premier said that every Kenyan has a right to life, food, clean water, education and adequate medical care.

He added these elections would be like no other since they will be the first under Constitution, where there would be six ballot spaces.

He likened his political journey to Israelites exodus from Egypt to Canaan and exuded confidence that he was the right leader to take Kenya into the Promised Land, where equality would be guaranteed.

Raila said there are many things they shared with President Kibaki and Kalonzo, which are only known to the three of them, on how the Government was being run and asked leaders that it is only imperative that they (Raila and Kalonzo) continue working together even after Kibaki retires.

“Kibaki, Kalonzo and I have always discussed issues that are only known to the three of us. It is just imperative that we continue where Kibaki has left,” said Raila amid cheers from the clergy.

At the same time, the premier assured the clergy and other religious leaders across the country that his Government would work with them in the management of learning institutions sponsored by the church.

Kalonzo said Kenyans must be delivered from the bondage of poverty, unemployment and tribalism that has bedevilled the country for the last 50 years.

No violence

The VP said CORD government would ensure that the rule of law is upheld at all times citing that the era of impunity is long gone.

“We in the CORD will govern the people according to the law.  This time round, there will be no violence because it is now a matter of national and international law,” said Kalonzo.

He challenged the clergy to lead their flock in preaching peaceful co-existence and deal firmly with the ghost of tribalism, vowing to stem the vice in all CORD campaigns.

Kalonzo said during polls, Kenyans should elect a leader who is a Kenyan not a person’s tribe or ethnicity.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the General Election would be free and peaceful. The clergy must be in the forefront of dealing with the ghost of tribalism so that voters can elect a Kenyan not a person from a particular tribe,” added Kalonzo.

He said he buried the hatchet to work with Raila for the unity and benefit of all Kenyans and challenged the clergy to ensure that this generation bequeath the next, a peaceful and a unified country.