Pope Francis prays for Kenya,calls for dialogue

Kenya’s political crisis has had the Pope deeply worried.

The Pope, who also appealed for peace in the world, asked all the faithful to join him in prayer in praying for Kenya in particular, where tensions are high in the wake of highly contested fresh presidential election that is scheduled to be held on October 26.

“I ask you to join my prayer for peace in the world,” Pope Francis said to pilgrims and tourists gathered for the Sunday Angelus prayer.

“I am paying close attention in these days to Kenya, which I visited in 2015, and for which I pray, that the whole country might be able to face the current difficulties in a climate of constructive dialogue, having at heart the search for the common good.”

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Kenya is heading for fresh Presidential elections in just three days’ time despite the country being deeply torn and polarized.

The opposition has pulled out of the race citing lack of goodwill from the government and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after it failed to initiate reforms to ensure free fair and credible elections.

The incumbent Jubilee administration is however hellbent with going ahead with the elections scheduled on October 26 in order to avert a constitutional crisis after the Supreme Court nullified the August polls citing irregularities and illegalities in the transmission of the Presidential results.

Both candidates have turned down calls for dialogue to resolve the crisis.