US Tells President Uhuru, Raila to Hold National Dialogue

US Tells President Uhuru, Raila to Hold National Dialogue

United States Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec has urged President Uhuru Kenyatta and National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga to hold talks.

Godec called on the two leaders to hold an “immediate, sustained and transparent national dialogue to resolve the ongoing political impasse."

In a statement to the media on Monday, the envoy said the U.S was concerned with violence witnessed in some areas of the country during and after the October 26th repeat presidential election and urged political leaders to publicly denounce violence.

“The United States is profoundly concerned by the outbreaks of violence in Kenya following the October 26 election. Leaders and politicians should clearly and publicly reject violence and work to keep the peace and make every effort to ensure the supporters do so as well,” read part of the statement.

Godec further called on the  security apparatus not to use excessive force while repulsing demonstrators and “only use it when there is no other choice to protect life and property,” adding that protesters should exercise their rights peacefully.

“We are deeply concerned by reports of excessive use of force by the police; we urge that all such allegations be fully investigated and any officer who have acted outside the law be held to account,” added Godec.

He asked Kenyans not to subscribe to politics of hatred and ethnic division.

Comments

sokora (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 10:19am

Let Kenyans not subscribe to politics of hatred! well said Hon. Ambassador. Kenyans are not divided; politics is what divides people. Those preaching hatred should be dealt with accordingly.

Mwororo (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 12:24pm

Mr. Godec, please tell Kenyans and the world what police officers should do when confronted by protesters that are: throwing stones, burning buildings, schools, crossing roads, beating mortorists, physically attacking police officers, looting super markets etc. In USA, we see anti riot police force fully armed with guns,stun guns, face shields, police on horse backs and police dogs-K9 targeted at the American protesters should they get violent. Your security forces are ready to injure or kill protesters in protection of other Americans and property- and of course, everybody knows for you Americans, private property is more important than lives of protesters. Besides, who elected you as a representative of Kenyans to keep making political statements in our country. Can you imagine our ambassador in Washington DC telling Trump to hold a dialogue with Hillary Clinton? Please be the guest you should be and shut up on our political affairs. Please don't help us the way you helped Lybia and Iraq and also how for several decades you've been on hand actively helping Somalia- we see the outcome.

Mugi (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 12:50pm

In reply to by Mwororo (not verified)

Very well said. He can go teach Trump how to respect others and hold a dialogue with Hillary. Hold dialogue also with black people who are treated like third class citizens they are jailed for life for minor offenses and shot all the time like dogs by the cops who go scot-free all the time Hypocrisy hypocrisy.

JustMe (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 03:08pm

In reply to by Mwororo (not verified)

Thank you @Mwororo!
You said it all, precisely, loud and clear!

For heaven's sake, bw. ambassador, what is your interest with RAO? With all the incoherence....all he has put Kenya through, who needs him? KEEP OFF!

Mchichi (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 02:04pm

This people should not say anything to Kenyans. Colluding with russians, harassing local and foreign journalists, surveillance on all immigrants permanent residents and naturalized citizens, now who is being abused, Kenya is a strong country and will move beyond this.
They are not our gatekeepers

MaragA (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 03:01pm

US government does not negotiate with militia groups like those budnt (sp) who refused to vacate federal land. Why should Kenya gova negotiate with a militia group that wants to destabilize the country?

Mwangi maina (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 04:02pm

In reply to by MaragA (not verified)

They need to practice what they preach. They are very happy in Kenya, Kenyans as usual kissing their behinds, mzungu here, mzungu there. House helps,lawns managed, high security, good weather, places to hang around away from Africans, a dollar that can be stretched further. Damn with all those benefits they could care less, even Raila looks good.

Anonymous (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 07:18pm

Baba is not interested in colluding with the leader who ascends to power through questionable means.A level playing field otherwise known as a free fair and credible election is all we are asking for.Sweeping our demands under the carpet and having side shows like dialogue and sham elections will not do.Be objective if you can if not at least pretend.

OneDay@times (not verified)     Mon, 10/30/2017 @ 09:38pm

Any such talks should not be between the two parties only; Third Way Alliance saved the day during Kenya's political turmoil and they should be part of any such dialogue. The big two may bring their political might while Aukot brings reason, balance and a safety net. I can go a step further to suggest that future election should have at least 3 candidates.

JustMe (not verified)     Tue, 10/31/2017 @ 01:14am

In reply to by OneDay@times (not verified)

I second your opinion, @OneDay.
".....The big two may bring their political might while Aukot brings reason, balance and a safety net....."

I wonder who reads our comments..... some good suggestions come by once in a while. Maybe it's time to have a 'Cyber Minister". It all sounded so funny when Mugabe announced a WhatsApp Minister, maybe it's funny.

Hon Kenjuu (not verified)     Tue, 10/31/2017 @ 05:43am

Very well stated @Mwororo. I applaud you and others who have expressed similar sentiments. The American ambassador is a guest in our country, not our supreme lord to tell our government and its people what to do or not to do; or whom to dialogue with. If he is that much of an international leader then he should have advised his ignorant narsistitic president Trump to dialogue with and institute power sharing with Hillary. More importantly, who the heck does he think he is to talk of police brutality in Kenya when everyone with know how knows too well that police brutality and massacre of innocent civilians, especially Black citizens, is the highest anywhere in the whole world? Let him remove his country's big log before he sees a small speck in our country.

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