KANU Party chairperson Gideon Moi has spoken out following the destruction of property witnessed in recent days as the opposition continues to stage anti-government protests.
The latest saw the burning of a church and a mosque in Nairobi’s Kibra area on Monday night by goons after a day of protests.
Additionally, property was destroyed when goons invaded opposition leader Raila Odinga’s company in Nairobi, as well as former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family land in Kiambu County, and Odinga has accused the government of orchestrating the invasions to counter their demonstrations.
Moi on Wednesday said Kenyans must denounce property destruction even as they exercise their constitutional right to protest and picket.
“Even as we exercise the right to picket under Article 37, we must all be emphatic in denouncing the destruction of private property in any part of this country, be it a stall, shop, supermarket or even farm,” he said in a series of tweets.
He condemned the burning of the church in Kibra, where Odinga commands a huge following.
“We must come to a common understanding as a nation that our different political inclinations should not degenerate into religious animosity as recently witnessed in parts of Kibra Constituency, Nairobi County. Our constitution acknowledges the supremacy of the Almighty God in the Preamble and the freedom of religion, thus reaffirming the importance of religious tolerance despite our beliefs,” the former Baringo senator said.
Although KANU is under the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition party which Odinga leads, the party has not been active in the Azimio protests as the opposition pressures President William Ruto’s administration to lower the cost of living, among other issues.
On Tuesday, the party however condemned the attack on Kenyatta’s farm, terming it distasteful.
Through its Secretary-General George Wainaina, KANU urged the government to ensure those behind the attacks are brought to book.
“If the property of the family of the former president can be invaded in broad daylight with no police response, what about the property of the common Kenyan? KANU finds this trend very disturbing and calls on the relevant authorities to immediately institute measures to arrest and prosecute individuals who took part in the invasion,” Wainaina said