NAIROBI, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday called on the country's leaders to stop unnecessary politicking and instead focus on development to improve the lives of Kenyans.
Speaking in Nairobi during a clean-up exercise, Kenyatta urged the leaders to slow down political contests and thus refrain from fueling needless tension as Kenyans want service delivery.
"We have elections every five years. Why can't we wait for the next elections? We will not feed on our parties but on development. We should respect each other as no development is delivered on party lines," said Kenyatta.
"Let us work together as this is our country. We have nowhere to go to, so let us pull together to help our people," said the Kenyan leader who joined United Nations Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim and UN Habitat Deputy Executive Director Victor Kisob for a clean-up exercise of Uhuru Market in Nairobi.
He said Kenyans need service from those they elected to serve them and there was need for calm on the political front until the next polls.
Kenyatta said the objective of improving the lives of all Kenyans cannot be achieved if there is disunity among political leaders.
"Kenyans want service from those whom they elected. Leaders should respect each other because when it comes to development it is for all of us," he added.
Kenyatta's remarks came amid debate on whether Kenya should conduct a national referendum to amend the constitution in a bid to address a political, social and economic challenges peaked late last year after the divisive and highly disputed polls.
The calls shutter a lull of political activities that had been witnessed in the East African nation since March 9 when Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga made peace after acrimonious polls in 2017.
They further prepare the country for a long political duel between proponents and opponents of the referendum.
Proponents of the referendum are led by Odinga while deputy president William Ruto is against any change of laws.
