Ruto Admits Meeting Raila, Issues Conditions [VIDEO]

"If our opponents want to talk let's talk but don't lie to Kenyans that we are in a crisis. Let us talk as Kenyans but do not internationalize your losses," Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi stated.

Salim Mvurya, Cabinet Secretary in charge of Mining and Blue Economy, and House Speakers Moses Wetangula and Amason Kingi on the other hand maintained their hardline stances on urging President Ruto not to meet Raila Odinga and instead focus on implementing his agenda.

Azimio Confirms Raila Meeting With Ruto

President Ruto's sentiments were corroborated by former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya who revealed that the President and Raila held the first in a series of talks mediated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to iron out differences between the Kenya Kwanza government and the opposition.

“We sanctioned a meeting between our leadership and that of Kenya Kwanza, under the facilitation of H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo.

"This initial meeting was to prepare the ground for honest discussions of the issues we have been raising and those that Kenya Kwanza feels like raising. The meeting was therefore a talk about envisaged talks,” Munya announced during a media conference called by the Azimio coalition in Nairobi.

Munya however termed it “unacceptable and misleading” for the Kenya Kwanza faction to issue statements purporting to be Azimio La Umoja issues.

He made reference to National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichung'wah's statement which claimed that the talks would revolve around the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, implementation of the two-thirds gender rule, entrenchment of the Constituency Development Fund, establishment and the entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and embedment of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary. 

“Our priority in the discussions is the high cost of living which has only gotten worse with lifting the conservatory order on the Finance Act 2023 last week. We want to see immediate actions by the regime that will lead to the lowering of the cost of living,” he said.

Munya added that Azimio is still demanding an audit of the 2022 General Elections results and a probe into police brutality witnessed during the recent anti-government protests the opposition called to protest against the high cost of living and the tax measures in the Finance Act 2023.

“We will respect the issues Kenya Kwanza brings to the table and they must also respect ours. We expect Kenya Kwanza to have no objection to our priorities,” Munya said and added that they will soon announce the names of the members they will field for the talks.

Azimio however added that it would continue with the nationwide rallies it has been holding to picket over the high cost of living will continue alongside the bipartisan talks it agreed to with Ruto's government.

“As we continue to pursue discussion, we shall continue will our engagements with the people. That right of association, expression and assembly is in the constitution and we are not to negotiate that with anyone,” Munya added.

On Saturday, July 29, Ruto and Raila agreed on a new way of resolving the political impasse that has seen the opposition take to the streets through anti-government protests.

Azimio agreed with Kenya Kwanza to establish a committee of 10, composed of five members each from Azimio and Kenya Kwanza.

They include four members from outside Parliament, two from each side. The Leaders of Majority and Minority from the National Assembly, four additional Members of Parliament and two from each side.