Ahead of the upcoming meetings between the leaders of the ruling alliance and the opposition, Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya, has urged Kenya Kwanza leaders to put an end to their “vitriol.”
Speaking to reporters in Nairobi on Tuesday, before of the negotiations that are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Odinga stated that they should be transparent and protected by etiquette, honesty and respect for the Kenyan people.
We have put an end to our protests in order to give discussion and peace a chance because, as a party, we think that this country deserves peace rather than paralysis. The opposition leader urged Kenya Kwanza to stop the animosity immediately since it was ineffective.
“Having an open conversation is not the same as giving up or acting cowardly. We are still dedicated to engaging in sincere discussions about the strategy for reaching a comprehensive diplomatic solution to the nation’s issues.”
Ten people make up the discussion committee that Azimio and the Kenya Kwanza Alliance of President William Ruto have established.
Azimio, among other things, calls for a decrease in living expenses, an audit of the servers used for the 2022 General Election, a bipartisan reorganization of the IEBC, as well as what he calls respect for political parties.
Odinga reiterated that he is not attempting to use the bipartisan talks to press for a ceasefire with Ruto like to the “Handshake” he had in March 2018 with Kenyatta.
He insisted that the talks are being held for Kenyans’ wellbeing and referred to President Ruto’s administration as being “too filthy” to enter into a cease-fire or a coalition government deal.
It appears that Odinga was alluding to the innocent Kenyans who died during the most recent anti-government rallies when he declared, “We do not want to shake anybody’s hands; those people’s hands are tainted with the blood of innocent Kenyans.”
The leader of the Wiper Party, Kalonzo Musyoka, will oversee the Azimio conversation team, which will also include the DAP-Kenya’s Eugene Wamalwa, the minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, the senator for Nyamira, Okongo Omogeni, and the Malindi MP, Amina Mnyazi.
The Kenya Kwanza team, which includes Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, EALA MP Hassan Omar, Bungoma Woman Rep Catherine Wambilianga, and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, will be led by Ichung’wa.
If the anticipated bipartisan negotiations are unsuccessful, the former prime minister has threatened a return to the streets. Over 20 individuals died during the most recent round of protests.
Previous negotiations in April and May failed because both parties charged one another with sabotage.
by: Antonrudige