The National Super Alliance (NASA) and Jubilee party have been asked to apologize publicly to Kenyans over the political escapades the two entities have been whirling the country through since the 2017 August election.
Self-made leader of Opposition Dr Ekuru Aukot said in a statement that Kenya needs apologies and forgiveness in pursuit of reconciliation and healing.
While appreciating the recent truce between President Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader Raila Odinga, Dr Aukot said: “There is no doubt that our country is a religious country. Like the biblical Paul, and in order to forge a lasting peace and to start a process of forgiveness, it is also wise to recognize forgiveness and issuance of an apology as an integral part of a reconciliation process.”
The Thirdway Alliance leader urged both the NASA and Jubilee leadership to acknowledge what he termed as their past wrongs and at the very least, issue the following seven apologies in order to drive a sustainable reconciliation and a healing process in the country.
1.From NASA, a public apology to President Uhuru Kenyatta for having orchestrated a politically, regionally and ethnically heated campaign that Uhuru’s government was illegitimate even after the Supreme Court declared him as duly elected. Dr Aukot said this would restore Kenya’s respect for democracy, the presidency, rule of law and in our institutions of governance including the Executive, Parliament and Judiciary.
2.A public apology from both coalitions to the Wafula Chebukati led IEBC for disparaging their work and in particular boycotting the repeat poll of 26th October 2017. He said this would restore confidence in IEBC going forward.
3.A public apology for their fallback position of impunity and more specifically to assure Kenyans that Jubilee and NASA will respect of rule of law, the Judiciary and other institution of governance going forward.
4.A public apology to the Kenyan people for disrespecting their will as captured in the Constitution so much to the extent that Raila Odinga, swore himself as a parallel president other than one contemplated in the Constitution. According to Dr Aukot, this apology would guarantee respect for the people and our Highest law in the country.
5.A public apology, more specifically to the families of all those who lost their lives during Jubilee and NASA’s political exchanges.
“We recall Kenyans who died during that time as a result of confrontational politics. To this extent, both NASA and Jubilee should lead in recognizing that those deaths occurred because of their confrontational politics,” Dr Aukot’s conveyed in a statement dated March 10 via Thirdway Alliance website.
He said this would appease the families of the deceased, and they will find space in their hearts to forgive.
6.A public apology from NASA on the economic sabotage of some products key in driving the Kenyan economy. “We urge Hon. Raila to disband the #RESIST campaign and call on his followers to join the Thirdway Alliance #INSIST campaign calling on the government to deliver services to Kenyans.”
7.Thirdway Alliance further called on Raila Odinga to be true to the spirit of reconciliation, and disband the Peoples’ Assembly and to stand down as the Peoples President.
“This way, we can truly be comfortable that there is no card under the table; and to call on all our 47 Counties now to work together in the spirit of our Constitution that requires cooperation and consultations between the two levels of governments. This would ensure delivery of development projects to every part of Kenya,” the statement pressed.
The People’s Assembly activities were suspended on Monday after the Uhuru-Raila unity agreement. The organ’s leader, economist and NASA strategist Dr David Ndii said they opted to give a leeway for the process begun by their leader, Mr Odinga and President Kenyatta to take course.
The Opposition members, largely drawn from the Mr Odinga led ODM have since declared support for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s big four development agenda.
Uhuru on Friday, March 9 held talks with his political arch-rival Raila at the office of the President in Harambee House, before addressing the press jointly.
The two noted that they had resolved to work together to heal Kenya following the divisive 2017 elections.
They said it was time to put to an end the political differences that have divided more than four generations of Kenyans.
“We need to save our children from ourselves. My brother and I have come together to say ‘this dissent stops here’. We refuse to allow our diversity to kill the nation,” Raila said.