A section of the Kenyan clergy is said to have met close allies of President Ruto and Raila Odinga to push for bipartisan talks and stop the planned demonstrations, although details of such talks are still scanty, we have information that attempts have been made to stop the Wednesday demos
By The Weekly Vision
The international community has now come out strongly to push for a political truce between President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga ahead of the planned three-day mass action beginning this Wednesday. Some politicians in President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration have initiated a process of deactivating links between retired president Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga with top security officers and in the public service. Sources say the Azimio leadership has been getting intelligence briefings through senior people who are still holding influential and crucial positions in the current government.
Sources have told The Weekly Vision that the Kenya Kwanza administration is under pressure from the Western leaders to agree to a round table discussion with Raila Odinga to stop further deaths and destruction of properties. But even as the superpowers and the United Nations closely watch the political events as they unfold, locally, efforts are being made to reconcile the two political protagonists. The Azimio team maintains that the planned demonstrations will go on as planned while President Ruto has warned that the government would not tolerate deaths or destruction of property and that any form of violent protests as witnessed previously will not be condoned. In what is being seen as a reconciliatory tone, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has underscored that the government is not opposed to public demonstrations.
However, the CS warned that those planning to hold public barazas and demonstrations must adhere to rules and avoid engaging in violent acts that will lead to the destruction of public property. Political commentators have however observed that if the current political situation is not contained, with a divided country where 20 counties took part in demonstrations last week, the situation will have a significant bearing on the country going forward.
A section of the Kenyan clergy is said to have met close allies of President Ruto and Raila Odinga to push for bipartisan talks and stop the planned demonstrations, although details of such talks are still scanty, we have information that attempts have been made to stop the Wednesday demos. Sources allied to President Ruto have however vowed not to allow a handshake with the opposition but are only willing to hold talks on the creation of the position of official opposition to accommodate Raila and Azimio leadership but not to join the government. However, both sides of the divide agree that the political situation in the country needs an urgent intervention noting that in the current situation, sobriety should reign and leaders should reason to save the country from burning down.
Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga still enjoy a very cordial relationship with top civil servants including the national police, National Intelligence Service, and even the DCI. They get unauthorized briefings about sensitive government plans before the operations start. It is not a secret that Raila Odinga has been pulling a fast one against the police during mandamano protests. They then use such leaked intelligence reports to play hide and seek with the police thereby making such demos successful. It is against such leakage that the Kenya Kwanza government has warned former state officials using what he called unorthodox means to derail their plans that their days are numbered. The government has warned all persons, including current and former political leaders and public office holders that they must follow the law.
Sources say that the Azimio team has taken a hardline stand among other demands including repeal of the controversial finance bill 2023, the opening of servers, reconstitution of the IEBC, and lowering the cost of living. Although both Ruto and Raila’s sides have been chest thumping and taking a hardline stand with no side ready to be seen to blink first, the truth of the matter is that whatever choice the two leaders will make, the public will bear the consequences.
As much as the Azimio team insists they are not ready for a handshake, the Ruto side claims Raila’s end game is to do another handshake with Ruto and be given a share of the government. They claim they will not be blackmailed into allowing a handshake with Raila. They claim Raila is known for criticizing the government without offering tangible solutions.
The Raila team, however, in a quick rejoinder has maintained that Raila does not go for handshakes, he is approached for handshakes. But even as the clergy and the international community are said to be pushing for dialogue, analysts say there are constitutional hurdles in achieving some of the proposals by Raila and his team.
