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Accuses Kenyan president of foisting dictatorship on the nation
By Nsikan Ikpe
Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has predicted that his principal antagonist in the race for the presidency of East Africa’s largest economy, incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta will fall like Mugabe.
Reacting to Friday’s police crackdown on hundreds of his supporters who had come to receive him after a trip out of the country, Rala, who is the leader of the NASA Alliance, said that the police action was another evidence of the fact that Kenyatta and the Jubilee Party were intent on foisting a dictatorship on Kenya.
He called on Kenyans to re-commit themselves to the struggle to bring an end to the Jubilee Government, saying that like other dictatorships that have crashed in Africa, including that of the presently embattled Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Jubilee’s days were also numbered.
“NASA strongly condemns what has happened today, that is becoming a pattern in our country. We hold President Uhuru Kenyatta and his illegitimate regime responsible for this absurd and unfortunate turn of events. The President has the blood of innocent Kenyans on his hands,” Raila stated.
The former Prime Minister averred that the recurring acts of brutality spearheaded by security officials confirms Jubilee’s dictatorship that is taking root in Kenya. He urged Kenyans of goodwill to take action and support him to ensure that Jubilee Government is ejected from office.
“Today’s use of maximum brute force confirms our fears that a dictatorship is taking root in Kenya. As citizens, we have a duty and responsibility to stop it now before the roots go too deep,” he said.
Raila also likened President-elect Uhuru to Yaya Jammeh in the Gambia, Blaise Compaore in Burkina Faso among other controversial African leaders who have presently being ousted in varying bouts of ‘peoples power.’ “Kenyans however need to take heart that the path Uhuru is taking is a beaten one. It is the same path that was taken by Yaya Jammeh in the Gambia, Blaise Compaore in Burkina Faso, Laurent Gbagbo in Ivory Coast, Faure Gnassingbe in Togo and now Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. The results here will not be different,” stated Raila.
In their reaction however, Jubilee Party leaders blasted the National Super Alliance (NASA) leader over the protests that rocked Nairobi on Friday, saying that the time had come for him to confront the reality that he had lost out in the power game.
Led by National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, the leaders asked Raila to accept that President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta won the October 26 repeat presidential election.
“How many lives do you want to see lost and property lost for you to reach where you want? Kenyans voted for President Uhuru and you moved to court, we accepted the ruling and the President was also elected on October, you cannot therefore continue charging Kenyans when the dice has been cast,” said Duale.
On his part, Elgeyo Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said that the former Prime Minister should accept the will of the people as was exercised on August 8 and October 26 repeat presidential poll. “It is unfortunate what we witnesses yesterday (Friday) where an old woman was stabbed and robbed of bananas and more property destroyed. It is sad that a leader who was once a Prime Minister is profiling a community to just churn a path to power. “If God designed you to be an Opposition leader then be contented and serve the people. Otherwise this is just a waste of time and energy because Kenyans made their decision and elected President Uhuru Kenyatta, make peace with that,” Murkomen pointed out.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko also condemned the chaos and asked the Opposition leader to take responsibility. The leaders spoke at a burial ceremony of the late Nyeri governor Wahome Gakuru.
Five people lost their lives and several others were injured including Kathiani Member of Parliament Robert Mbui when police clashed with NASA supporters in Nairobi.
According to the official police account of the incident given by its spokesman George Kinoti, the dead were stoned to death by angry mobs in different incidences after they were allegedly caught stealing.
Opposition leader, Raila Odinga of Kenya
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