CORD told to shun ‘divisive rhetoric’

President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged the Opposition to desist from actions that may threaten the stability of the country despite their political differences with the Government.

The president spoke during the launch of the National and County cohesion and integration dialogue forums dubbed the “Pamoja Conference” at a hotel in Nairobi yesterday.

Uhuru’s plea comes at a time the Opposition unveiled a schedule of 12 rallies leading up to July 7. The President said “divisive rhetoric” by the Opposition is threatening national stability.

“The post-election violence of 2007 taught us many things, chief among them that competitive politics is not enmity. Kenyans know from bitter experience that political enmity threatens our very nationhood. We must admit that we disagree about our nation’s past, and the course our path should take in years to come. None of these differences justify division or hatred,” he said.

He said the way to win elections is by talking respectfully to Kenyans and at the appropriate time. CORD leader Raila Odinga was slated to address the conference but he skipped the meeting. National Council of Churches of Kenya General Secretary Canon Peter Karanja, who convened the conference, said their efforts to get Raila to participate in the conference at the last minute bore no fruits.

He said religious and community leaders will in the near future engage the former Premier to ensure dialogue on key national issues is moved forward. Uhuru said the Government will strengthen the National Cohesion and Integration Commission by allocating more funds. The commission has been moribund since last September when the terms of Commissioners expired.

Hampering cohesion

Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Adan Wachu  urged the Interior Co-ordination Ministry to rein in on police abuses in the ongoing security operations against insecurity. He said police harassment, extortion and humiliating treatment of people is weakening cohesion. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku cautioned CORD against inciting the public.The President called on Parliament to expedite the process of appointing NCIC commissioners and approving proposed amendments to the NCIC Act to give the commission more powers to fight forces hampering national cohesion.