The risk of the country plunging into full blown conflict and an economic collapse due to a presidential election dispute is real and must be avoided at all costs, Kenya's Catholic bishops warned today (26 September) as police battled protesters in the capital, Nairobi.

The police fired teargas to disperse hundreds opposition supporters who had marched to the offices of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), in an attempt to force out the commission of officials over the bungling of the 8 August Presidential elections. Similar protests had been witnessed in Kisumu city, the main opposition stronghold.

The protesters were demanding the sacking of the chief executive, Ezra Chiloba, and other officials for allegedly interfering with the election which was nullified by the Supreme Court on 1 September. They want major changes in the commission and new companies to print ballot papers and manage the electoral computer systems.

While expressing a deep concern over the state of nation, the bishops urged the politicians to employ dialogue and reason to forestall the looming conflict and violence being fanned by the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) and the ruling Jubilee Party.

“We must now act as watchmen,” Bishop Philip Anyolo of Homa Bay and chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said at a news conference.

Anyolo also said the country should stand for what is right, defend the truth and speak against what is wrong.

“As we are all aware, IEBC is the main electoral management body in this election. The Supreme Court also stated clearly that a fresh Presidential election should be managed by the IEBC,” said Anyolo.

Since the Supreme Court’s nullification of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win, the East African nation has split along ethnic lines, with politicians beating the drums of war.

Kenyatta accused the judiciary of orchestrating a “coup” against his government, but accepted the ruling.

“We call upon President Kenyatta to emerge as a symbol of national unity and offer the needed leadership at this point in time,” said Anyolo.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance (NASA) praised the ruling. Odinga initially filed a case with the court claiming the electoral commission’s computer system had been hacked in order to give Kenyatta the win.

Citing illegalities and irregularities, the court ruled that fresh elections be held in 60 days. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has moved to election date to 26 October after initially settling for 17 October. However, the politicians have tangled over the date and the composition of IEBC, with the opposition threatening a boycott.

On Saturday, Cardinal John Njue appealed to politicians to use dialogue to calm the country, as political temperatures related to fresh Presidential elections reached peak.

PICTURE: Demonstrators run through tear gas thrown by riot policemen in Kisumu, Kenya