Raila Sends Protest Warning Ahead Of Talks With Ruto

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga on Saturday, August 5 threatened to mobilise his supporters to take to the streets again in September in protest of President William Ruto's government.

Speaking in Gem, Siaya County, on Saturday when he attended the burial of David Omondi Ofwaya, a protestor who was shot dead during the now-suspended demos, the former Prime Minister stated that he would direct his supporters to fresh anti-government protests if the planned bi-partisan talks between the opposition and the Kenya Kwanza government fail.

Odinga insisted that his coalition was open to holding talks with Kenya Kwanza but will not settle for anything less than the demands it wants Ruto's government to address.

These include the reduction in the cost of living, audit of the 2022 elections, bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC, as well as inclusion in national affairs and respect for political parties.

"I said as members of Azimio, we are ready to talk, we will talk and give them 30 days to complete the talks. After the 30 days, if they will not give in to our demands, I will issue another directive.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader added that the inclusion of Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka would breathe a lease of life to Azimio in ensuring that their demands to Kenya Kwanza are met.

"However we have formed a negotiation team that allows Kalonzo Musyoka the opportunity to talk with those from the other side," said Raila.

"We will talk without conditions, the same way they should not give us conditions. But when they are not ready to talk and agree with us on what we want, we are saying that after 30 days, Kenyans will take a different direction."

Odinga's statement comes hours after Kikuyu Member of Parliament and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah opposed plans to discuss the audit of the 2022 election results and the high cost of living, threatening to throw the scheduled talks between President Ruto and Raila in limbo before they even begin.

Speaking in Murang'a County, Ichung'wah, who is also leading the Ruto delegation in the talks, affirmed that they will not encourage dialogue centred around the opposition's inclusivity in government.

However, the lawmaker expressed willingness to engage with the opposition to discuss five issues, including the implementation of the 2/3 gender rule and the establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of Opposition. 

Others were the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the embedment of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary. 

"If they want to reduce the cost of living, let them go to the farm, and we can supply them with fertiliser," Ichung'wah made the remarks while accompanying the Head of State on a five-day development tour in Mt Kenya region.

The lawmaker argued that he had been firmly directed by Ruto regarding the planned engagement with Azimio that the talks will not result in any government arrangement on a power-sharing formula. 

Ichung'wah was backed by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who urged Ruto to pull out of the talks arguing that they were aimed at derailing the Kenya Kwanza agenda and Ruto's legacy. 

"All those tricks they were using to look for ways to get into the government will not work. I want to assure them that I will stand firm when it comes to protests that are used to destroy property," Ruto asserted on his part.

President William Ruto addressing residents in Githurai, Kiambu County on August 5, 2023. /PCS