A Kenyan pastor based in the United States, Donald Kisaka Mwawasi, has filed a petition in the High Court to have a mediator appointed to settle the dispute between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy President William Ruto.
In the court documents, Mwawasi explained that he together with former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko tried to broker a truce between the two but failed in their attempts.
Sonko is also enjoined in the petition seeking to have the dispute between the two leaders resolved before the August 9 polls.
The duo explained that the courts could play a big role in bridging the differences between the two leaders noting that a similar process had taken place in Gambia.
Through their lawyer, George Khaminwa, the petitioners argued that the matter needed to be settled with urgency citing the upcoming elections.
"The National Cohesion and Integration Commission, a State body mandated to promote national unity, previously warned that continuing with the ‘hustler vs dynasties’ line risked deepening class divisions and plunging the country into chaos,”
"This is dangerous for the prevailing peace and tranquillity in the country and cannot be taken lightly,” Khaminwa stated.
However, the duo blamed the public spat that has often turned ugly on the failure of Attorney General Paul Kihara in advising the Head of State.
“The AG’s failure to take measures to initiate, encourage or advise the government on the need for reconciliatory and mediation measures is in violation of Article 156 of the Constitution to safeguard the public interest,” he stated.
Uhuru and Ruto have in the recent past engaged in heated public spats where the Head of State has accused his deputy of neglecting his duties and focusing on his campaigns.
Ruto on the other hand has accused the President of holding a grudge against him without any reason. While appearing at a Town Hall meeting last Thursday on KTN News, the DP claimed that the President was unresponsive to mediation talks initiated by the church.
"Bishops talked to me, they talked to the president. When they came back to me I told them I want to have a chat with my boss, but he refused. He flatly refused. He denied the bishop a chance for me to have a talk with him. Ask ACK bishop Ole Sapit," he stated.
