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EAC called out to mediate in Kenya’s drawn out political standoff

Saturday October 14 2017
clash

Supporters of the incumbent president’s Jubilee coalition clash with those of the opposition-led National Super Alliance, disrupting businesses in Nairobi on October 11, 2017. PHOTO | AFP

By BEATRICE MATERU
By DICTA ASIIMWE

Political analysts want the East African Community to intervene in the Kenyan situation, just as it did with Burundi.

“Kenyan politics should be discussed within the East African Community. Members of the community should take this issue seriously; the situation is very worrying and disturbing right now” said Mwesiga Baregu, political commentator from St Augustine University, Tanzania.

Unrest in Kenya will disrupt a region already facing numerous challenges to peace and stability.

Benson Bana, a senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam said Kenyan politicians should reach consensus. “The Kenyan Constitution is well articulated, laws are there... any person who feels the re-election won’t be free and fair should opt for legal support,” Prof Bana said.

Others, however, view litigation on matters that need compromise as likely to prolong the crisis.

“The problem with Kenya’s democracy and Constitution is turning the courts into an arbiter on all matters, including those that need political negotiation,” said Prof Michael Chege, an independent consultant on development issues.

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Jared Osoro, the head of research at Kenya Bankers Association said politicking was bad for everybody including banks whose stock of trade is money. “There is an opportunity cost when the money is not lent out,” he said.

Crispy Kaheru the coordinator of the Citizen’s Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda says many of the problems causing instability are political and should be dealt with us as such.

“Kenya may have doubts around possibilities of attaining electoral justice but the problem was never legal, it was political too. So while the legal gymnastics may continue, it is important that they too explore political options,” Mr Kaheru.

Kenya joins South Sudan and Burundi among the countries where drawn out political disagreements are affecting stability with Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania also having unresolved political contestations.

East African Business Council chairman Jim Kabeho said business was hurting as a result of daily street protests.

But it is not just Kenya that is worrying the business community. South Sudan has been fighting since 2013.

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