THE ROLE PLAYED BY DPP HAJI IN RUTO-RAILA TALKS

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Former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, on Friday, April 14, revealed the role The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji played in bringing to the table President William Ruto and former prime minister Raila Odinga.

DPP Haji was the lead negotiator sent by President William Ruto to strike a deal that saw the ceasation of weekly demos by the opposition team.

Is it true DPP Haji was a key Mediator as Oparanya Claims?

Oparanya said that emissaries from both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions met from the morning up until the time the address on bipartisan talks was made. He indicated that DPP Haji arrived with five leaders from the Kenya Kwanza administration.

However, the former governor declined to reveal the identity of the other members, given the sensitivity of the issue. He only revealed the identity of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP Haji to confirm reports circulating in the media.

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The former governor noted that the over 6-hour meeting between the duo and DPP Haji started on the morning of Sunday, April 2nd, and went on until evening when major concerns of both sides were addressed. After the two parties reached an agreement, President William Ruto called for a State of Nation address, with Raila Odinga holding the same, hours later.

He(Haji) is the one who initiated it. You got that information earlier, so I could not hide it. That very day-on Sunday, April 2nd, when the announcement was made, the team sat from the morning. Later on, there was those who joined from the Kenya Kwanza side and there are also others who joined from our side.”
Oparanya stated.

However, Oparanya noted that the major issue raised by Raila-led brigade was on the cases that had been opened against Azimio leaders and protesters-which they wanted dropped.

According to him, the DPP dropped the cases a day after the meeting, a sign of good faith from the Kenya Kwanza administration.

It wasn’t a concern because you do not know the relationship between whoever was sent(Haji) and the president. Maybe being a civil servant, it was also in good faith.”
Added Oparanya.

Oparanya’s claims that there was a meeting between the two parties, were supported by Raila’s remarks on April 4th. But Raila still denied reports that he personally met William Ruto.

There have been allegations that I met Ruto in Mara. Nothing can be further from the truth. The request came from the other side, and our people responded and gave conditions.”
Raila started.

However, DPP Haji denied having been in the meeting with journalists and is yet to speak publicly on the matter.

I do not know what you are not talking about.”
The DPP said.

On Monday, April 3rd, National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah also addressed reports of the secret meeting between Raila Odinga and President William Ruto.

I can confirm that Ruto has not met with Raila Odinga. He has not even spoken with Raila, leave alone the handshake.”
he said.

In his statement, he also maintained that the agreement for a bipartisan approach was not similar to the handshake between Raila Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

A bipartisan approach is an approach that looks at the country’s interests over and above the bipartisan because I may have my interests as the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio has theirs. It has absolutely nothing to do with a handshake. I can see that some quarters are happy with a handshake.”
Ichung’wah clarified.

The truth, of whether Raila Odinga met with President William Ruto, before calling off weekly demonstrations remains a mystery to the public. Even though many netizens and political analysts believe there was a meeting between the two political heavyweights, the leaders remain untested from their claims that there was not meeting between them…but instead, the meeting that arrived at the decision of bipartisan talks was between their allies.