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On Thursday, April 13, Raila Odinga addressed Azimio la Umoja supporters who converged at Ufungamano House in Nairobi for a public baraza. The Azimio la Umoja movement leader accused Kenya Kwanza of not being honest in the inclusive and credible process of national dialogue.
Kenya’s opposition chief AND Azimio la Umoja LEADER announced that anti-government protests will resume after the holy month of Ramadan,despite an agreement on bipartisan talks with the ruling party.
Read Also: Police have no excuse to injure anyone in protests – Wamalwa
The people have called on the Azimio leadership to immediately resume maandamano after the end of Ramadan. “
Raila Odinga said.
He accused President William Ruto’s camp of having not agreed fully to participate in the bipartisan talks.
You want to use this as another rubberstamp for Kenya Kwanza. That has to be understood from the first onset.”
Raila added.
Should the talks falter or there are no fruits because of lack of openness, lack of honesty, and indulgence of our opponents, the people will have no option but to take their future and that of their country into their hands. Already, we are seeing signs of insincerity from Kenya Kwanza which is trying to determine for us what we should take to decision table.”
Raila Odinga remarked.
Earlier on, majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah had told Raila Odinga that the bipartisan talks will not allow any discussions on the opening IEBC servers.
The issue of the IEBC servers was addressed by the supreme court. The opposition can go back if they have any issues with the servers.”
Ichung’wah remarked.
Also Read: Kenya Kwanza Unveils 7-member Bipartisan Dialogue Team
Which way Azimio La Umoja?
Azimio la Umoja through Raila Odinga had requested the Kenya Kwanza team to allow the bipartisan talks to look like that of 2008 so as to discuss a number of issues but Kenya Kwanza said Raila Odinga intends to join the government and they will not allow that.
However, a section of Kenyans argues that president Ruto has beaten Raila Odinga in his own game by nominating MPs who are not in limelight to discuss with Raila Odinga’s team.
Opposition leaders final takes on the bipartisan dialogue.
On the other hand, opposition leaders say they will not act on the hardline of the government side but will decide whether their rivals are keen to resolve the political crisis once the committee get down on the talks.
We shall chart a path for Kenya’s salvation, engage all Kenyans in making our nation great- veterans, human rights activists, intellectuals, faith-based organisations, trade unions, farmers’ associations, small business, and other society organisations.”
Raila Odinga said.
Eugene Wamalwa assured that Azimio la Umoja will give dialogue a chance and will only return to mass action if the bipartisan talks take a serious route.
We gave our team the terms of reference and I’m sure Kenya Kwanza has also done the same. So let’s now give the teams time to engage and of course as they engage, they will agree on the joint terms of reference and agree on the rules of engagement and have a work plan, a roadmap from commencement to conclusion of the talks. Let Kenyans be patient and allow the teams to now engage, but if in the course of talks, we realise that Kenya Kwanza are not serious, or have not come with clean hands or lack good faith, then we will have no choice but to revert to mass action. “
Eugene Wamalwa remarked.
Azimio la Umoja executive council chairman Wycliffe Oparanya also had a chance to address the crowd on his views on the objective of the bipartisan talks on discussing reconstitution of the IEBC panel.
Both sides will come with the their demands and that’s why there are no negotiations. It is a process, we have to take the names to the National Assembly and senate for adoption, terms of reference will have to be agreed on and we shall brief the public accordingly. “
Said Oparanya.
You’ll have to choose one; Kenya Kwanza commented
These comments come after Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga announced the return of street protests accusing President William Ruto of insincerity on the proposed bipartisan dialogue.
Senate majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot has urged Azimio la Umoja team to either choose the bipartisan talks or go back to the streets.
It is bipartisan talks or the streets, you can not have it both ways. No double chance betting.”
Cheruiyot said via his Twitter page.
He said peaceful conversations can’t be held at the expense of threats.
You must at least balance in something. In peace talks, guns are normally silenced first.”
He said.
