Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko has summoned an equal number of politicians from both the CORD and Jubilee side. In total, 18 politicians are set to record statements with the police over hate-speech charges. Coincidence?
Already, CORD senators Elizabeth Ongoro and James Orengo have recorded statements this morning at Kilimani Police Station. MPs Junnet Mohamed and Jakoyo Midiwo also recorded statements.
The equal number of leaders picked from the two sides may have been to debunk the myth that only opposition politicians are being targeted by the government.
Standard Newspaper, in an editorial, however, points out that this ‘delicate balancing’ reinforces the feeling of a divided nation that needs healing.
There is no doubt that there is so much to worry about the state of the nation today. There is also no doubt that to cure that, the politics of attrition and grandstanding will not offer the solutions needed.
It means therefore that the political landscape needs new ways of thinking. Ways that offer a broad-based approach to issues. It means to admit that too much sectarian politicking is bad for the country.
The editorial lambastes Jubilee hard-liners not seeing the need for dialogue.
“…the braggadocio displayed by the likes of Leader of Majority Aden Duale serves to widen the divide. So instead of embracing the step that Raila Odinga took in writing the letter, parliamentarians associated with the President’s party have made incendiary remarks, some even asking the President to return the letter unread. That is unfortunate and we believe the President does not share such thoughts. He will need to whip his party stalwarts to embrace dialogue as a way out of the current political morass”.