Spotlight on Kenya as P.M. says Intolerance Threatens Survival of the Country

Raila Odinga - A Call for Tolerance

Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga today condemned what he termed as the culture of intolerance which he said threatens the survival of the Kenyan nation. Citing the violence that has hit the country with every election since the 1990s, the PM said Kenyans want a stop to the culture before it ruins the nation. He called for tolerance between religious, cultural and ethnic groups saying even geographical areas of origin should not be used to divide Kenyans. The PM paid tribute to Kenyans, saying despite the upheavals that have threatened their country, they have remained determined to preserve their sense of nationhood “sometimes with little help from the leadership.”

“Today, there are no two ways about it; the whole Kenyan nation is united in saying, ‘Enough is enough. Stop it. We must bring an end to this madness of mistrust that brings destruction. We must also reconcile and unite our people from now onwards,” the PM said. The PM said Kenyans, irrespective of the cultural, religious and ethnic differences, hold common hopes. “We may be coming from different geographical parts of this country and we may trace our ancestry beyond the borders of Kenya; but we all want to move in a direction that promises a better future for our children, our grand children and our nation,” he said.

The PM was speaking at the Central Railway Station in Nairobi when he flagged off a “Sacred Peace Train” hired by members of the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha and the Sikh community from Kenya and abroad. The train began its journey in Kisumu and is headed for Makindu Sikh Temple. Spiritual leaders on board will be praying for peace, prosperity and unity of Kenyans at various stops along the way. The PM asked religious groups and community based organizations to take a leading role in reconciling Kenyans. He challenged religious groups and community based organizations to pursue programs and policies that seek unite rather than divide the nation.

The PM said peace would only be assured by the equal sharing of resources to create “a more just and more equal” society. Odinga said faith based organizations are particularly well-placed to spread the reconciliation and the understanding because of their daily interactions with the masses. “Few organizations are closer to the people and are more spread at the grassroots than our religious institutions and leaders. It is a power and a mandate you must use for greater good,” he said.

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