11 foreign envoys hit Raila with new conditions

Authors:

janet ndila

February 11, 2018 11:52 AM

Foreign envoys issue statement on the way forward after 'Raila's swearing in'

A team of 11 envoys have united in issuing new demands to National Super Alliance(NASA) boss Raila Odinga after he took his ‘oath’ as the ‘People’s President’.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the envoys asked Odinga to recognize the legitimacy of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

The statement read in part that “the opposition needs to accept that Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto are the legitimate President and Deputy President of Kenya as the basis for the dialogue that it and many Kenyans want”.

The envoys further warned that “stoking and threatening violence are not acceptable, nor are extra-constitutional measures to seize power”.

Odinga’s swearing in attracted criticism from foreign envoys including Robert Godec of the US and Nic Hailey of UK with some hitting out at him, terming his ‘swearing in’ a violation of the same constitution he is allegedly fighting to protect.

The opposition boss has however paid little concern and bashed the envoys for their silence at a time when they needed to speak against the actions of state agencies and the government.

Speaking in Vihiga yesterday, Odinga disclosed that “we (NASA) are now putting in place structures that will enable us to execute our mandate, whether they (government) like it or not”.

In the same statement, the envoys urged the government to uphold the Constitution and comply fully with court orders.

In a thin veiled attack at the state, the envoys noted that “freedom of expression, freedom of the media, and all civil rights need to be protected. When individuals are arrested, their rights should be respected and due process followed”.

Authors:

janet ndila