Atheists in Kenya have called for troubleshooting of critical issues as the country gears towards 2017 general election.
The group raised concern over the current unrest in the political arena, and calls for the disbandment of electoral body IEBC saying if the issues are not well addressed, might spark violence.
“It is a fact that Kenyans are losing hope in the electoral process. We believe that such concerns, if not adequately addressed, are likely to provide fertile ground for violence during, or after the elections. This has happened before. We must not allow it to happen again,” Harrison Mumia, the president of Atheists in Kenya said on Wednesday in a statement.
Mr Mumia said there is need for robust and transparent mechanisms to manage the upcoming elections and its outcome to avoid violence.
He said it's important to trust those given the mandate to manage polls for the sake of peace.
“We are calling for a national dialogue that will incorporate the participation of representatives from the IEBC, political parties, civil society groups, Parliament, Senate and Judiciary and the media, as a means of troubleshooting critical issues in the preparation of the 2017 elections.”
A section of political leaders, the church as well as part of the civil society have raised concerns over the capacity of the Issack Hassan led Commission to handle free, credible and fair elections in 2017.
Cord leaders Raila Odinga, Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka on Monday led their supporters to IEBC headquarters in Nairobi to evict the commissioners from office.
Their efforts were however thwarted after police dispersed the demonstrators using tear gas.
The opposition leaders maintained that they will camp at IEBC offices every Tuesday until the commissioners leave office.
They said they will boycott 2017 polls if IEBC bosses don't resign, arguing that they cannot be trusted to conduct free and fair elections.