Before the national discussion between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja can begin, President William Ruto has added another condition for opposition members.
After consistently stating that there would be no handshake or power sharing, he made the remarks in Nyeri County during a five-day trip around the Mount Kenya Region.
President Ruto said in a statement on Monday that in addition to rejecting the handshake, Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga should also promise to end violence before they proceed with the scheduled talks.
“I heard they decided yesterday that they don’t even want a handshake, and we have endorsed that as well. Now, I want to ask you about the second matter that worries me. we both believe that Kenya should put an end to violence, conflicts, and property destruction,” Ruto stated in Mukurwe-ini.
President Ruto implied that the opposition should make their views on violence known in order for the forthcoming negotiations to be more successful.
“If we agree on those two, that there is no handshake and there is no violence, then we can proceed as a country, and we can discuss the rest of the things,” he continued.
In addition, he said that topics other than power-sharing and issues with violence are welcome to be discussed during the talks. The president of state emphasized once more that the nation is peaceful, democratic, and adheres to a constitution that calls on the opposition to continue carrying out its responsibility of overseeing the administration.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who declined the chance of a handshake, agreed with him and urged the opposition to put an end to the violence.
Gachagua demanded that Raila Odinga and his group reject using violence to settle political disputes in this nation before the discussion could begin.
The president repeated the same statements during each of his stops, in Othaya, he urged the locals to embrace development and eschew concerns of handshakes or violence. If the discussions fall through, the opposition leader suggested on Saturday that the anti-government rallies would resurface by September.
“Since we are speaking with no restrictions, they should not impose any either. Our people will take a different course if there is no agreement after 30 days,” Odinga stated in Gem, Siaya. “However, we are prepared for dialogue.”
This week will see the start of the negotiations between the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio teams after National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa declined the initial invitation from Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka due to engagements that day.
“I hereby acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 3 August, 2023, and take notice of its contents.” Ichung’wah said, “On the invitation to a meeting on Monday, 7 August, 2023, we request your team’s tolerance.”
According to the Kenya kwanza team, the negotiations will now start on Thursday, August 10.
“While acknowledging the urgency of starting the negotiations, it is important to note that we had a scheduled debrief with our team on Monday to get ready for the negotiations and a further meeting with the Bi-Partisan team and their assisting counsels on Tuesday, 8 August,2023. As a result, we humbly request your forbearance and suggest that we arrange our first joint meeting on Thursday, 10 August, 2023 at 10am,” Ichungwa continued.
