Mudavadi in talks with cardinal Njue

Mudavadi in talks with cardinal Njue Written By:KNA,    Posted: Mon, Aug 06, 2012

Njue also urged the political leaders to bring Kenyans together and lead by conducting peaceful campaigns Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi Monday held discussion with head of Catholic Church in Kenya Cardinal John Njue at Holy Family Basilica to deliberate ways on how to foster peaceful campaigns and elections ahead of the general elections. The DPM said the meetings are aimed at seeking partnership with the religious leadership on fostering peace and a confirmation to them that United Democratic Forum (UDF) party is committed to a peaceful and dignified election. "I stand on the platform of peace, reconciliation and stability of the Kenyan nation and these consultations are meant to advance this course", Mudavadi told the press accompanied by Cardinal Njue after the meeting. Mudavadi said UDF is consulting and lobbying various stakeholders and leaders to urge Kenyans to embrace peace before and after the elections. "We are entering a critical phase in the Country's electoral process and that is why we are discussing and consulting with the church to foster a peaceful process and lobby the leaders to urge our people to embrace peace", he reiterated. The meeting comes barely a week after a similar meeting with the Methodist Church head Bishop Stephen Kanyaru and another one with National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) senior officials at Jumuia centre. Mudavadi said in 2007 general elections, the degree of tolerance within the political fraternity broke down resulting in the post-poll violence in which Kenyans lost lives and property. He said he was a member of the national reconciliation process under Kofi Annan and would not condone recurrence of violence again. "We don't want political violence anymore and that is why the UDF party wants to engage the religious sector to partner with the political leaders to advocate for peaceful elections and appeal to Kenyans not to turn a democratic process into cycle of violence before and after the elections", he noted. On his part Cardinal Njue said the Church will play an active role in fostering peace ahead of the elections and will pray for fair, peaceful and democratic elections next year. "We have fruitful deliberations with the DPM on what can be done to have peaceful elections. The Catholic Church commits itself to be at the forefront to advocate for that and we have already embarked on civic education through the Pastoral Letters", he said. Njue also urged the political leaders to bring Kenyans together and lead by conducting peaceful campaigns to avoid a repeat of similar 2007 post-poll chaos where innocent Kenyans suffered.