Washington: The United States expressed deep concern about the political crisis in Kenya on Wednesday and urged parties to resolve their differences over a disputed election without resorting to violence.
Kenyans are due to vote Thursday in a re-run of August’s presidential vote, which was annulled after the Supreme Court found “irregularities” and mismanagement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
But opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged his own supporters to stay at home after protest violence left at least 40 dead, apparently clearing the way for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.
“The United States urges all Kenyans to remain calm, reject violence, and uphold the principles of their Constitution in the election scheduled for Thursday,” US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.