Kenya’s Opposition, Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, has called off anti-government protests that were scheduled for Monday, April 3, in order to allow for dialogue with the government.
Speaking from Capitol Hill in Nairobi on Sunday, Odinga acknowledged President William Ruto’s appeal for reconciliation and welcomed his statement of reviewing laws on the selection of IEBC Commissioners.
“Ruto has asked me and Azimio to enter into constitutional open-ended and biding dialogue with his govt to find a resolution to the issues that we in Azimio raised over last year’s elections and key governance and cost of living issues facing our country,” Raila said.
“We acknowledge Mr Ruto’s olive branch for a dialogue on key issues raised by Azimio La Umoja. To us, this is a positive development,” Odinga added.
“We agree that a balanced parliamentary process co-chaired by both sides and backed by experts from both sides should proceed.
“In our view, this committee must be composed with immediate effect with strict deadlines for resolving the crisis facing the country,” said Odinga.
Odinga also ordered his supporters to stand down from the planned protests and acknowledged President Ruto’s olive branch for a dialogue on key issues raised by Azimio la Umoja, calling it a positive development.
However, he also stated that the weekly protests would resume next week if the talks with President Ruto fail.
Call off further protests, Kenya’s Ruto appeals to Opposition leader
The Kenya’s President, William Ruto has called on the Opposition leader, Raila Odinga to call off the protests over the issue of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Responding to the opposition leader who wants the membership of IEBC selection panel to be reviewed to allow the opposition to have notable say in the people who pick the next commissioners of the electoral agency.
The President while addressing the nation on Sunday, said he has proposed a bi-partisan consultation in Parliament on the re-constitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) panel.
He further said the review must take place within the parameters of the law and the Constitution, adding that the opposition’s demands on IEBC selection panel can easily be addressed in Parliament.
Ruto regretted that violence, chaos and disorder had deflected the Government’s focus on economic transformation. “In view of the recent events that led to loss of lives and destruction of property”.
He said he is ready to engage all Kenyans as he has done with leaders from all the political divide, adding that his take on the issue was not about who is right or who is wrong.
“…courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; it is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Saying he was committed to upholding the freedom of the media “even with its biases against the Government”.