Commonwealth Member States have appealed to President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga to embrace dialogue in order to de-escalate the escalating political tensions in Kenya.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Commonwealth expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence, conflict, and loss of life in the country and urged leaders from all sides to engage in constructive dialogue to find solutions to the challenges facing Kenya.
The Commonwealth emphasized its readiness to assist in resolving the conflict and disruption in any way possible. The statement further highlighted the negative impact of the protests on Kenya’s economy and expressed alarm over the increase in the use of hate speech during the demonstrations.
Calling for dialogue as the best solution to the current situation, the Commonwealth urged all parties to engage in discussions based on values of mutual respect and Commonwealth principles.
The aim is to find practical and sustainable solutions to address the issues faced by the country and its communities.
The statement comes amid heightened political tensions following the call by the Azimio party for anti-Ruto protests. Raila Odinga, in response, called on his supporters to participate in a series of demonstrations that took place from Wednesday to Friday.
However, despite these calls, there have been appeals from Kenya Kwanza and religious leaders to halt the protests, as they have led to the destruction of property and loss of lives.
During the protests on Wednesday and Thursday, clashes between demonstrators and police resulted in running battles on the streets.
In Kisumu, police used tear gas to disperse protesters who responded by hurling stones. Meanwhile, in Nairobi’s central business district, activities were initially minimal, but they picked up as traders resumed their businesses.
