1 Thing Envoys Should Now do to Uhuru - Raila's Adviser

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga's adviser, Salim Lone, has now demanded that foreign envoys put pressure on President Uhuru Kenyatta to hold talks with the Opposition.

Mr Lone accused the Western envoys of taking sides throughout the political season and only pressuring Mr Odinga to make concessions.

"The Western envoys, who have been intimately involved in the unfolding political dance from the very outset, and whose countries would suffer from any Kenyan meltdown, need to play a more balanced role than they have.

"At crucial moments they have missed taking advantage of opportunities for showing their impartiality," the adviser claimed.

[caption caption="Mr Odinga's adviser Salim Lone (front) with political analyst Adams Oloo (back) during a past presser"][/caption]

In a statement released on Tuesday, the adviser insisted that the only neutral ground would be to push for talks as they did for the Opposition to put off the swearing-in.

"With the swearing-in now postponed - which they had wrongly opposed publicly, like their opposition to non-participation in the October 26 election – they should not lose the opportunity to strenuously push for a meaningful dialogue that they consider is a priority to calm the country," Mr Lone demanded.

He went on to defend Mr Odinga emphasising: "Mr Raila Odinga is holding the country together through his commitment to pursuing constitutional and peaceful means."

The statement outlined that the former Prime Minister has been calling for talks with President Kenyatta blatantly disregarding the calls.

"Raila himself has consistently stated in recent weeks the need for a serious dialogue of equals that addresses the root causes of the crisis, including electoral injustice. Uhuru brushed off that proposal.

"Will the envoys now publicly urge Uhuru to engage, as they did Raila?" the adviser posed.

Among the Western envoys who urged NASA to cancel the swearing-in are US Ambassador Robert Godec and the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US government’s Bureau of African Affairs Donald Yamamoto.

[caption caption="NASA leaders with US envoys during a past meeting at Capitol Hill"][/caption]