By Arnold Neliba
NAIROBI, JULY 21, 2023 (CISA)-The National Dialogue Forum consisting representatives from religious institutions, business fraternity, civil society, and labour movement is recommending national dialogue based on a clearly defined framework that will create a platform for Kenyans to discuss and suggest solutions to longstanding challenges affecting the country.
“We now call upon His Excellency President William Ruto and Rt Honourable Raila Odinga to embrace dialogue and end the grandstanding that is pushing the country deeper into crisis. As the top political leaders in the country, you have a mandate of entrenching a culture of inclusive and multi-stakeholder dialogue and consultations to address issues rather than confrontations,” reads a Friday July 21 statement.
The forum through a joint statement signed by Rt Rev John Oballa Owaa Chairman of Catholic Justice and Peace Department of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Bishop Dr John Okinda Vice Chairman of National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and Al Hajj Hassan Ole Naado Chairman of SUPKEM suggest the engagement to be led by religious institutions for sustainability.
“The framework should provide for engagement of all stakeholders, and should be buttressed by religious institutions for sustainability. There must be a firm commitment that the outcomes of the process will be implemented to avoid a repeat of what has happened in the past,” the statement reads cautioning against associating the dialogue for a push for power sharing between the government and opposition.
As part of the six point agenda for the engagement, the forum has fronted Constitutional and Legal reforms, Land reforms, Poverty, inequality and regional imbalances, unemployment, addressing transparency, accountability and countering impunity and enabling constitutional commissions and independent agencies to deliver their mandates.
“…we agreed to establish a nation based on dialogue and consultations through well outlined structures. The cycle of pre and post-election crises we have witnessed over the decades is a reflection of the failure by political leaders to choose dialogue to address their disputes and agreements,” the forum noted.
During the season of protests called by the opposition, the dialogue forum has asked Kenyans to peacefully coexist by refusing to engage in violence despite incitements.
On calls for resumption of Bi-Partisan talks, the forum suggests the agenda be limited on the reconstituting of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
