Civil society groups in Rift Valley are pushing for stronger and independent state institutions to protect the country’s democratic and human rights gains.
They have also backed calls for national dialogue to resolve issues affecting youth and other challenges facing the country.
The groups have petitioned former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and other key leaders, asking them to initiate national dialogue to strengthen state institutions.
The move follows a recent meeting by the groups, led by the Kenya National Civil Society Centre, who met in Eldoret and declared full support for an inter-generational dialogue process as suggested by Raila to deal with the youth crisis and other problems.
Centre CEO Suba Churchill said the country cannot develop in an environment of protests and violence, which leads to damage to property and scares away investors.
He said although the youth had opposed the suggested talks on grounds the constitution was clear on the uses they want tackled dialogue was always important in dealing with all kinds of challenges.
“Yes, we know the constitution is clear but the Bible is also clear yet we always have differences, which must be addressed,” Churchill said.
He said some leaders and Kenyans were opposed to the talks arguing they would yield nothing. He noted, however, most of the previous reforms beneficial to the country were as a result of dialogue.
Churchill said even the current Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was a product of the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) dialogue process.
Churchill said there is need to come up with a mechanism that will be acceptable to all.
He said it is necessary for the country to reform institutions like the police, IEBC and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to make them stronger and effective in serving Kenyans.
Churchill assured Raila they fully support his proposal for inter-generational talks, which should also focus on issues raised by the youth.
He said through dialogue issues like implementing the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission report on land and historical injustices would also be addressed.
He said the issue of public debts and strengthening devolution will also be dealt with through dialogue so that the truth can be laid bare.
Churchill was with actors from the civil society groups operating in Rift Valley including Kipkorir Ngetich from the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Kimutai Kirui, Sharon Morara, Donald Sumba and Cheromola Chesire.
“Youth must know that violence and chaos will not yield anything if there will be no dialogue to bring everyone on the table,” Ngetich said.
