• A roar over which side, between the government and the opposition, reached out to the other first for a ceasefire amid unrest witnessed across the country now looms as Raila Odinga and Rigathi Gachagua continue to issue contradictory statements
• DP Gachagua alleged that the opposition called for a truce after realising that the demonstrations against the President William Ruto-led administration were a lost cause that would amount to nothing
• Raila Odinga however, claims it is President Ruto who reached out to him and his team to call off their countrywide protests and give way for negotiations
A roar over which side, between the government and the opposition, reached out to the other first for a ceasefire amid unrest witnessed across the country now looms as Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua continue to issue contradictory statements.
From right; Raila Odinga and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
DP Gachagua, speaking at the AIPCA Ngarariga Church in Limuru Constituency in Kiambu County on Thursday, alleged that the opposition called for a truce after realising that the demonstrations against the President William Ruto-led administration were a lost cause that would amount to nothing.
The DP went on to state that the government will not take kindly to the opposition’s threats to take back to the streets if the said talks do not amount to their demands.
“These people reached out to our President. They said they had reached a dead-end and they wanted an exit strategy. The President said fine and he gave them the nod to go and discuss their issues in Parliament,” he said.
“The President called us and informed us of his decision and we said fine. They are now threatening to go back to the streets but I want to say that we will not allow anyone to destroy any property belonging to Kenyans.”
Mr. Odinga however, on the other end, claims it is President Ruto who reached out to him and his team to call off their countrywide protests and give way for negotiations.
According to the Azimio chief, who spoke during a Parliamentary Group meeting also on Thursday, the Head of State urged them to go slow on their riots especially during this holy month, to which they agreed.
“Ruto asked me and Azimio to enter into a constitutional, open-ended, and binding dialogue with his administration to find a resolution to the issues that we have raised about the last year’s election and key governance and cost of living issues facing our country,” said Mr. Odinga.
“His call came in the middle of our engagements with other diverse group of Kenyans including religious leaders from all faiths about the crisis facing our country. They implored us to give dialogue, especially during the holy periods of Easter and Ramadhan. It is in this context that we agreed to call off the protests and give dialogue a chance.”
The opposition chief further added that they agreed to the talks since they were the only way through which peace could be restored in the country.
He added that their intentions, ahead of the bipartisan engagements, are pure, and they hope that some of their more urgent concerns – especially regarding the cost of living – are addressed as such.
“We know, and Ruto knows that such processes of dialogue, of give and take, have saved our nation in the past and they can save our nation now. We have chosen to give him the benefit of doubt,” he said.
“We go into these negotiations holding the firm belief that our cause is just, our intentions are pure and our goal is patriotic. We go into these talks convinced that some issues, in particular lowering the price of food, is urgent, can’t wait and does not even need talks.”
Mr. Odinga added: “We agree that a balanced parliamentary process co-chaired by both sides and backed by experts is an appropriate way to proceed.”
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