A cross-section of leaders has called for an urgent national conference to deliberate on the country’s current situation.
The leaders led by renowned environmentalist Isaac Kalua said the conference should bring together all sectors of society for “a national engagement and not just a dialogue”.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the group urged Azimio leaders to consider calling off the weekly demonstrations and give room for national engagement.
“We gathered here to empathise with Kenyans of all walks of life who have lost their loved ones, those who have been injured, maimed and lost property,” Kalua said.
With him were lawyer PLO Lumumba, Political Parties Liaison Committee vice chair Chris Kilonzo, and former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia.
The group further urged the Executive, Legislature and Council of Governors to convene an urgent meeting to address the country’s prevailing challenges, in particular the high cost of living.
“We humbly call upon every Kenyan to take individual responsibility that leads to peace and tranquillity,” said Kalua.
Azimio announced weekly mass protests to put pressure on the government to reduce the cost of living, halt a contested process of reconstituting IEBC and get a nod to an independent audit of last year’s presidential election results.
Deaths, injuries and destruction of property were reported on Monday as police engaged protesters during the second week of Azimio mass action.
Kalua noted that Kenyans have a right to picket, and demonstrate peacefully as per the Constitution.
“On the other hand, our economy is going through unprecedented stress and needs to be fixed. There is serious unemployment and a high cost of living. The totality of all these recent events is adding fuel to fire,” he stated.
He added that what has been witnessed in the past few days threatens the existence of Kenya.
He warned that what looks like a political contest can quickly degenerate into a full-scale breakdown of law and order.
