EALA MP Opens Up On Raila Protests Scaring Away Foreign Investors

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament (MP) Godfrey Maina Karobia on Saturday, April 29 watered down claims of investors being scared off Kenya due to the Azimio la Umoja demonstrations planned to resume on Tuesday, May 2.

Speaking during an interview with Esther Nyonje on YouTube, Karobia indicated that foreign investors still had total confidence in Kenya's economic potential despite it being affected by the Azimio protests, among other issues.

He gave examples of visits to the United States (US) by Cabinet Secretaries (CS) Moses Kuria and Alfred Mutua where they pitched ideas to foreign investors as well as the protests in France which have not stopped travel between the country and Kenya.

EALA MP Godfrey Maina Karobia during an interview on April 29, 2023. /YOUTUBE.ESTHER NYONJE

"I saw the CS for Trade & Investment and the CS for Foreign Affairs doing a whole entrepreneurship roadshow in the United States (US) in New York, and investors were listening to them. That tells you the international community has total confidence in our country 

"These are normal political hitches here and there. In France, it is actually extreme right now; people are burning down buildings in France but are we stopping people from going to France? Today if you go to JKIA, there are some Kenyans who are flying there (to France)," Karobia revealed.

He weighed in on the bipartisan talks between the Azimio and Kenya Kwanza coalitions which hit a stalemate after the two teams failed to reach a consensus regarding the inclusion of MPs Adan Keynan (Eldas) and David Pkosing (Pokot South) to the bipartisan committee.

"It is normal to have these disagreements...the stalemate that the bipartisan talks might be having is not a threat to foreign policy," he went on.

The EALA MP however ruled out a handshake agreement between President William Ruto and Azimio leader, Raila Odinga, referring to the handshake agreement between Raila and former President Uhuru Kenyatta which did more damage to the country as a whole, including the economy, than the protests.

"Looking at the losses of the handshake vis-a-vis the losses of this maandamano (protests), I can tell you that Kenya lost a lot more during the handshake than it is losing during maandamano.

"What Kenya stands to lose with a handshake is that our wholeity lost with a handshake, it was a nationwide loss. In maandamano, there are just some skirmishes in some pockets of Nairobi," he opined.

Karobia criticised MPs allied to Azimio calling for the return of the protests due to the Kenya Kwanza government not meeting their demands despite being elected by Kenyans to represent their interests, adding that Azimio's best chance to have their issues addressed is through the bipartisan talks instead of through protests.

"As leaders, be mature, go to the (National) Assembly and articulate your issues objectively. Raila Odinga stands a good chance to have his issues addressed through the bipartisan talks opposed to the streets," he urged.

Azimio remained firm in their push to return to the protests despite a police ban issued on Sunday, April 30 on the same.

Raila further announced that he would lead demonstrators to four government offices on May 2 to present petitions in a bid to pressure President Ruto’s administration to heed their demands.

They include the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices, the Office of the President, the National Treasury offices and the Public Service Commission, all in Nairobi.

Raila Odinga addressing supporters in Murang'a on April 20, 2023. /RAILA ODINGA