The United States led by President Donald Trump has issued a
statement on the repeat presidential Kenyan election moments before IEBC's
final tally of results.
In a statement issued by the US Ambassador to Kenya Robert
Godec, the US said it was profoundly concerned by the outbreaks of violence in
Kenya following the October 26 election.
"Leaders and politicians should clearly and publicly
reject violence and work to keep the peace, and make every effort to ensure
their supporters do so as well," the statement read in part.
The US envoy welcomed the work done by some governors,
religious leaders, civil society representatives, the Kenya Red Cross, and
others to help keep the peace and assist those affected by the violence.
"The security services have a special responsibility to
show maximum restraint in the use of force, and should use it only when there
is no other choice to protect life and property. We are deeply concerned
by reports of excessive use of force by the police; we urge that all such
allegations be fully investigated and any officers who have acted outside the
law be held to account. Protestors who are exercising their
constitutional rights have an obligation to do so peacefully," the US
statement read.
The US Government appealed for calm in the coming days
calling on all Kenyans to come together at this critical moment to reject the
politics of hatred and division.
"We again urge that there be an immediate, sustained,
open, and transparent national dialogue involving all Kenyans to resolve the
deep divisions that the electoral process has exacerbated,"Godec
reiterated.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati is set to declare the winner
of the repeat presidential election at 3:30 pm.
