- Hussein said his organisation was not taking sides in the political conflict but standing with the law.
- Nyeri Catholic archbishop Antony Muheria asked leaders to embrace dialogue and restrain to avoid plunging the country in destructive path.
Image: John Chesoli
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission and civil society groups have cautioned against reckless speech and counter protest organised by politicians saying it is a recipe for chaos.
The commission's vice chair Wambui Nyutu said it is time for political leaders to tone down and restrain from activities and statements that could worsen the already heightened tensions in the country.
This is in the wake of anti-government protests that the opposition Azimio coalition has vowed to escalate for three days starting this Wednesday.
She was reacting to reports that President William Ruto met members of Parliament aligned to him and charged them to ensure no protests happens in their constituencies.
The reports have been buttressed by pronouncements by the Kenya Kwanza allied MPs who have urged their supporters to come out and defend themselves against protesting Azimio supporters.
"Telling people to come out and defend themselves is very irresponsible because it is an avenue for chaos and it will degenerate into loss of life. We must condemn any person from both sides that incites or encourages violence in any name," she said during a Monday morning TV appearance.
"We saw when Raila Odinga went to swear himself in 2018. The police let him be and the meeting ended that evening and everybody went their way. I ask the police to apply wisdom in responding to these protests and not to escalate the situation."
The NCIC deputy boss also faulted opposition politicians for insisting to carry on with the mass protests, terming them as inflammatory and that they should do all they can to ensure the street actions are peaceful.
"I understand that Raila Odinga is still calling on his people to come out and protest. But in this country we have never witnessed a peaceful protest, except when organised by civil society groups that have no political involvement. I appeal to Raila to tell his people that though it is their right in the constitution to protest, they should do it peacefully, for once," she said.
Civil society players appearing alongside her Kawive Wambua and Haki Africa's Hussein Khalid said plans of counter protesting was akin to the State House plans for the post-election violence that saw senior government officials hauled to the Hague-based International Criminal Court.
"It is the height of irresponsibility that must be condemned. Politicians must be held to account for their actions and utterances," Wambua said.
Hussein said his organisation was not taking sides in the political conflict but standing with the law.
"There is no taking sides here. The law does not allow protests that are violent. The law also does not allow civilians coming out to purportedly defend themselves because that is faming flames of violence. We must insist that our leaders and politicians be responsible and put the interest of the country ahead of their own," he said.
Nyeri Catholic archbishop Antony Muheria asked leaders to embrace dialogue and restrain to avoid plunging the country in destructive path.
"Leadership needs to be humane, empathetic compassionate, thats a leader. Currently, the leader is wrong, insultive, arrogant, imposing. I think we are going to a very wrong leadership and that is why the religious leaders are saying lets talk," he said.
"We talk about the style of leadership, supporting you for your agenda, but also talk about we are one family even though we think differently."