Kenya: opposition leader accused of ‘undermining democracy’

Kenya’s deputy president has ruled out immediate negotiations with opposition leaders, amid fears of further violent protests in the aftermath of last week’s presidential election rerun.

William Ruto accused Raila Odinga, the leader of the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa), of transforming the coalition into a “resistance militia” and of deliberately orchestrating violence to undermine democracy.

Ruto also compared Odinga to Joseph Konv, the warlord who terrorised a swath of east Africa for years.

“Mr Odinga has chosen to walk away from the democratic arena and says he has transformed his party into a resistance militia or movement ... He has joined the ranks of Joseph Kony, which is unfortunate,” Ruto said in an interview.

“We are willing to engage with him on how to take the country forward if he renounces violence as a means to furthering a political agenda but …. there is already a political deal that has been established by the constitutional framework of Kenya and the votes of its people.”

The deputy president’s words will disappoint those hoping for a rapid end to the standoff between political leaders in Kenya, which analysts say risks months of instability, or even a descent into widespread violence.

Rory Stewart, the UK’s minister for Africa, called on “all Kenyans to come together at this critical moment in an open and transparent national dialogue, to reject the politics of hatred, and to resolve divisions, so that Kenya moves forward towards greater peace and prosperity”, last Monday.

On Monday afternoon Kenyatta was declared the winner of last week’s poll, which was boycotted by the opposition, with 98% of ballots cast.

Supporters burst into song at the main tallying centre in Nairobi when the result was announced by Wafula Chebukati, the electoral commission chairman.

In a solemn acceptance speech, Kenyatta celebrated the resilience of the Kenyan people, democracy and institutions, and expressed his faith in God bringing “victory over darkness”.

The 55-year-old, who had previously spoken of reaching out to Odinga, was critical of the opposition, whom he accused of using “intimidation and witchcraft” to stop people voting.

The political turmoil began when the supreme court overturned the victory of incumbent Kenyatta in the 8 August election. It cited irregularities and mismanagement by the electoral commission.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy president William Ruto (Photo: the Standard)

Kenyatta went on to win by 9 points, with a turnout of 80%.

Odinga then withdrew from the re-run poll, saying he believed it would be marred by the same flaws as the August vote. Any agreement now looks very unlikely, with both sides digging in for a long struggle.

Ruto denied the low proportion of voters who turned out for the rerun – around 40% – undermined the credibility of Kenyatta’s mandate.

“We would have loved to have gone into the election with Mr Odinga on the ballot but when he realised he would not win he walked away. That does not delegitimise the election,” he said.

The election was marred by violent protests in the country’s western region, an opposition stronghold, and in Nairobi’s volatile slum neighbourhoods.

Polling in parts of the west of Kenya, an opposition stronghold, was cancelled for security reasons after widespread disorder.

So far this year, between 55 and 75 people have died in election-related violence this year.

Odinga has rejected the result of last week’s poll, which he said was a “sham” and called for fresh elections in 90 days - a demand that officials have rejected.

The 72-year-old called for calm on Sunday during a visit to the Kawangare slum in Nairobi, where gangs from different ethnic communities clashed on Friday and Saturday. Between three and 10 people are thought to have been killed.

“A country cannot be ruled by the gun. Standing here in this church we want to condemn the militarisation of politics in this country,” he told residents.

Kenyatta is limited to two terms and analysts say Ruto is likely to stand for president in polls scheduled for 2022.