MPs call for suspension of rallies to calm tension

Kajiado MP Joseph Nkaissery (right) addresses the Press at Parliament Buildings Wednesday over Mpeketoni attacks in Lamu County. He is flanked by a section of CORD and Jubilee MPs.  [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

Kenya: Some 25 MPs from across the political divide have called for suspension of all political rallies to calm tension in the country.

 The MPs asked the opposition CORD to call off the planned rallies meant to press the Government to call for national dialogue and the ruling Jubilee to also put off planned counter rallies.

The MPs who included National Assembly Minority Chief Whip Gedion Munga’ro, MPs Florence Mutua (Busia), Ben Momanyi (Borabu), Richard Onyonka (Kitutu chache), Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Joseph Nkaissery (Kajiado Central), Weru Kinyua (Mathira), Samwel Arama (Nakuru Town West), and Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati) condemned the Mpeketoni massacre.

Addressing the Press at Parliament Buildings, the MPs drawn from both Jubilee and CORD also demanded for an independent multi-agency operation that will identify and bring to book architects and perpetrators of the attacks in Lamu where 65 people were killed.

“With tremendous respect and humility, we request all political leaders in the country to unconditionally suspend the ongoing political rallies and incitement to give the national healing a breathing chance,” appealed the MPs in a statement read on their behalf by ODM’s Kitutu Chache MP Richard Onyonka.

The MPs also demanded that serious investigations be conducted to ascertain the motive of the attacks.

State of affairs

“The nation is bleeding, we have lost lives and property in the hands of brazen criminals. Members of the National Assembly are disgusted and disturbed by the current state of affairs. We are facing unprecedented challenges that need immediate attention,” the MPs said.

They appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and other politicians to offer leadership by deploying a non-partisan approach to heal the nation.

Nkaissery said time had come for the country’s political leadership to provide direction.

“We want to appeal to all Kenyans that if there is anything that needs to be addressed, Parliament, which is the house of their own representatives, has the mandate to discuss and debate to find solutions. Enough is enough but still we can’t sit and watch,” Nkaissery said.

He called on the Government to carry out extensive investigations so that those in the Government who failed to avert the atrocities take full responsibility for their actions.

Mr Ngunjiri said politicians must tone down their utterances and help to heal the nation saying the country cannot afford to go the route of ethnic incitement.