Amongst their first formal meetings as President and Deputy
President-elect of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto on Tuesday March 12
met senior religious leaders, even ahead of meeting outgoing President Mwai
Kibaki.
Uhuru emerged the winner by garnering 6 173 453 votes,
meeting the threshold of the country’s Constitution which required a 50% + 1
vote of all total votes cast. This was the first election to be held under a
new Constitution passed by Kenyans in 2010.
The threshold requirement was the first of its kind in the
country, aimed at ensuring Kenya does not slip into a situation such as the
last elections in 2007, where disputed Presidential results led to
post-election violence. Over a thousand people were killed and 660 000
displaced from their homes.
Uhuru Kenyatta (son of Kenya’s first post-Independence
President Jomo Kenyatta) and his Deputy face indictment at the International
Criminal Court in the Hague, charged for their alleged role in organising that
2007-8 post-election violence.
During his meeting with religious leaders, held at the
symbolically-named Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Kenyatta urged
politicians and all Kenyans to rise above the partisanship of the latest
campaign period and join hands to build the country.
The President-elect said Kenyans should focus on nation
building, adding that in his government there will be no losers or winners.
Kenyatta said that religious leaders are the custodians of
conscience and commended them for playing what he called the ‘noble’ role of
calling upon the political leadership to maintain high standards of probity and
integrity, and to keep to the straight path, however narrow it may be.
“I congratulate the religious leadership for the manner in
which it has continued to engage the political leadership in all matters of
national interest. My government will nurture this tradition,” said Kenyatta.
Among leaders who attended the meeting were the Anglican
Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, National Council of Churches
of Kenya (NCCK) Secretary General Peter Karanja, Africa Inland Church presiding
Bishop Silas Yego, Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Kenya, Father
Vincent Wambugu, and the Chairman of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (who
is also the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Secretary General ) Adan Wachu.
The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya said that they are keen
to work with all the leaders who were elected, including the fourth President
and his Deputy President, since it respected the vote of the majority of
Kenyans to elect them.
“What happened… was a statement by the people of Kenya on
the leadership they support. We as the Church will continue working with
Kenyans to get more commitment against corruption, and working towards
cohesiveness where we are viewed as one people,” “said Father Vincent Wambugu.
In his acceptance speech, Uhuru Kenyatta (who’d campaigned
by touring Kenya holding prayer meetings, amongst other rallies) had said “I
thank God for sustaining us and for bringing us this far. I thank all those who
have remained vigilant in prayer for our nation during this time”.
As celebrations by supporters of Uhuru’s jubilant coalition
went on, in other parts of the country there were those who were not happy with
the win of the President and his Deputy.
“As a Christian it’s a disappointment that we have these
leaders despite the prayers I made. The International Criminal court case
against the elect is an integrity issue that they need to have cleaned up
before contesting for any seat,” says Syowea Mwikali, a Christian woman in
Nairobi.
“It’s worrying because I placed my trust in God to choose
the best leader as led by the Holy Spirit, but the leaders who have been chosen
by the majority have caused a ripple and I wonder what is next for this
country?“Syowea adds. “On the other hand I see it as an opportunity for God to
turn this situation into something beautiful.”
Father Wambugu also acknowledges that the ICC charges are
something that Kenyans cannot ignore.
“The leaders are no longer ordinary people, as they were
when the charges were brought against them. However we have to give them the
opportunity to speak, and let the courts make their ruling.”
Uhuru in his acceptance speech did touch on this issue,
saying his government would respect all its international obligations.
“To the nations of the world I give you my assurances that I
and my team understand that Kenya is part of the community of nations and while
as leaders we are, first and foremost, servants of the Kenyan people, we
recognize and accept our international obligations and we will continue to
co-operate with all nations and international institutions– in line with those
obligations.”
Father Wambugu also called on Kenyans not to miss the point
of the new leadership in the country by focusing only on the head of state.
“We should focus on the other leaders like governors and
senators who have been elected and will be in charge of the devolved system of
governance the country has now embraced. The financial requirements of this new
system are going to be costly to Kenyans and may drive them to further poverty.
This poverty is what leads to tribal blocs. A focus on how to generate
resources will help people to focus on issues”.
As the country braces itself for the inauguration of the
President, due March 26th, there are potential bottlenecks. Hon Raila Odinga,
the defeated Presidential candidate, has said that he is going to contest the
Presidential results in court, saying that the electoral tallying process was
not properly carried out by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries
Commission. He has seven days in which to present his appeal and the Court then
has two weeks to decide its ruling.
The Inter-Religious Council plans to hold a a thanksgiving
prayer rally on 23rd March 2013, to which all the Presidential aspirants will
be invited if the situation in the country remains calm
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