With the increasing political heat in the country occasioned by the seemingly open differences between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy Dr William Ruto, calls are now increasing that efforts to reconcile them should not involve politicians.
Political leaders should off the reconciliation process between the two principals, according to Kaloleni Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Katana who said that the involvement of politicians will derail the process.
The legislator spoke during an interview with Uzalendo News where he said that there was need for reconciliation among the two top leaders so that the country can remain united.
“Political leaders will give conditions depending on whom they support between the two. The mediation process should take a non-partisan and impartial approach. If I support the President, I will always find fault in the Deputy President. Religious leaders can handle this matter holistically,” he said.
The legislator warned that the tiff between the two leaders is not healthy for the country especially at a time when the country is warming up for a general election in less than a year.
“We need truce between the two leaders like yesterday. The religious leaders offered themselves to reconcile the two. Let’s give them a chance for the good of this nation. If we go to the general election divided as we are it will be dangerous. This is a recipe for chaos,” he added
Last week, religious leaders announced a fresh bid to reconcile the two leaders.
Outgoing Christ is the Answer Ministries (CITAM) presiding bishop David Oginde said the animosity between Uhuru and Ruto is bound to increase political temperatures in the country.
Ongide confirmed that talks are ongoing but there is nothing substantive so far.
Robert Lang’at, the presiding bishop of Africa Gospel Church of Kenya, said it is unfortunate that the handshake between Uhuru and ODM leader Raila Odinga has caused division in the Jubilee Party.
“Many of us have been wishing that they should not just reconcile but the handshake that was extended to Raila should have also had the DP on board. You cannot build a long bridge from Central Kenya to Nyanza without pillars in Rift Valley,” he said through a phone interview.
The cleric said the President and the DP should reconcile for the sake of the country. The Africa Gospel Church of Kenya church is dominant in the populous South Rift Valley.
According to Mr Katana, the involvement of political leaders is to blame for the widening rift between the two leaders.
“Let MPs and Senators handle the rising cost of living. As MPs we have the pandemic and the drought to work on. Let’s come together and see how these issues will be resolved and leave the reconciliation to the religious leaders,” he added.
*This article was written by Ramadhan Kambi for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews24@gmail.com to submit your story.
