[Pope Francis in a past event in Kenya. He now wants dialogue between top Kenyan politicians ahead of Thursday polls. Photo/Nation]
Vatican says it is paying close attention to the ongoing political crisis on Kenya adding that it is confident that the leadership should embrace constructive dialogue before it escalates.
At St. Peters Square, Pope Francis asked pilgrims to join him in giving special prayers to the estranged East African nation, reports the Sunday Mirror.
“I am playing close attention in these days to Kenya which I visited in 2015 and for which I pray for that the country may face the current crisis with constructive dialogue,” he said.
While President Uhuru Kenyatta maintains that Thursday’s elections will go on as planned, opposition leader Raila Odinga has since withdrawn and called for peaceful protests.
Already, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati has claimed that he will not be able to conduct free and fair elections adding that political players should embrace dialogue before the poll date.
“I ask you to join my prayer for peace in the world. I am particularly concerned with Kenya,” he added during the Sunday’s Angelus prayer.
Analysts have maintained that the country could plunge into both a constitutional and political crisis should Jubilee and NASA leaders fail to agree on the way forward.