Exclusive: President Ruto’s Camp Pursues Azimio Alliance to Halt Protests
The Kenya Kwanza administration is working around the clock to reach an agreement with the opposition to end the anti-government demonstrations.
This is even though the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party is planning two months of rigorous street demonstrations to put pressure on the government of President William Ruto to meet its non-negotiable minimums, which include addressing the high cost of living.
According to GossipA2Z.com’s sources, the emissaries have enlisted National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed, Azimio spokesman Prof Makau Mutua, and a senior government official in the security sector to conduct the September 1 talks.
On Monday, two Kenya Kwanza legislators verified that peace talks are underway.
“Yes, we have contacted Azimio. Numerous obstacles are beyond our ability to solve. A member of the leadership stated, “We are speaking with their representatives, but I cannot confirm if this includes handing out positions.”
The Azimio leadership conducted their summit at the SKM Centre in Nairobi the week before launching the 10 million digital signatures collection campaign in Kibra.
“So far, we have held 38 summits, but Junet has not attended a single one. How can he mediate on our behalf when he has missed numerous Azimio protests? We will not accept any engagements,” said a source close to the situation.
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Another member of parliament added, “Our leaders, such as Martha Karua of Narc Kenya, are extremely dedicated to this cause and have rejected numerous offers to adhere to the Azimio demands. She has remained steadfast and asserts that she is not prepared to abandon ship at this time.”
The Azimio coalition is reportedly divided over whether to accept the overtures or reject them entirely and continue the protests in response to the Ruto camp’s latest proposal.
According to reports, Ms. Karua issued a warning to Azimio members not to succumb to the government’s move. There are two proposals on the table to institutionalize the position of leader of the official opposition in Parliament, with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in the National Assembly and his deputy, Ms Karua, in the Senate.
The Kenya Kwanza side also wants Azimio leader Raila Odinga to agree to be nominated for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC) when the position becomes vacant, or for the opposition to agree to end protests and collaborate closely with the government.
Kenya competed for the AUC seat six years ago, but then-CS Amina Mohamed was defeated by Chad’s foreign minister, Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The holder of this position is elected by the AU Assembly, which is comprised of AU Heads of State and Government, for a four-year term that is renewable once.
James Morgan, the then-ambassador of South Sudan to Ethiopia, stated that Kenya had failed to convince even some of its closest allies in East Africa to vote for Ms. Mohamed.
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Similar to the United States, Kenya has a pure presidential system with majority and minority leadership in Parliament, and there are concerns that the opposition leader’s position could be at the top of the pecking order.
Wycliffe Oparanya, the executive chairman of Azimio, dismissed as a farce any attempt by Kenya Kwanza to persuade them to abandon their people-focused agenda.
“There is nothing like that. We desire no positions. The protests are in response to the high expense of living and other issues that affect Kenyans. Mr. Oparanya stated, “We want the government to improve their living conditions so they can focus on secondary issues.”
David Murathe, deputy leader of the Jubilee party, has also cast a wrench into the works.
“The UDA side is hell-bent on eliminating Azimio’s constituent parties, but they desire an active opposition. “They should stay out of the affairs of the Azimio parties,” said Mr. Murathe, referring to the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal’s ruling on the protracted leadership contest.
Edwin Sifuna, secretary-general of the ODM and a senator from Nairobi, questioned how Mr. Musyoka and Ms. Karua will be elected to Parliament, given that the move requires a constitutional amendment despite the president’s memorandum on the subject.
There is a petition pending before the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
“We do not know such preparations. They do not typically inform us of such matters. Mr. Sifuna stated that there is a concern that if such plans were revealed to some of us, they would be derailed.
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Opiyo Wandayi, minority leader of the National Assembly, weighed in as well. “We do not want devastation. “We are committed to fighting for Kenyans to ensure that the cost of living is lowered and that their constitutional rights are protected,” he said. “Anything else is a distraction.”
Before Mr. Odinga took public transportation to work on Monday, Mr. Mohamed reportedly engaged him in conversation about the issue. Mr. Mohamed refused to either corroborate or refute the allegations.
“Maandamano is on, and no one has contacted me. I have no idea why people like me. I have not seen Jakom (Mr. Odinga) in the past week,” he added.
The simplest way to resolve the current impasse between the government and the opposition, according to the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, is to address the high cost of living.
“Here, we can break ranks. We are not protesting for positions; that is not our objective. Mr. Wambua stated, “We are fighting for the reduction of living expenses, the disclosure of the truth about what transpired on August 9, and the expansion of democratic space.”
Senator Kitui added, “We did not assign positions to our principals.” We engaged in structured discussions that were approved by both parties. Azimio approached the table with the utmost sincerity. The government, however, viewed it as an extension of political intrigues.”
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Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, who is also the leader of the Party of National Unity, has joined the protests. Mr. Munya stated in an interview with a local station that the primary focus of the rallies is the intolerably high cost of living.
Mr. Munya stated, “If being arrested will improve the situation, I am willing to be arrested and even detained.”
Exclusive: President Ruto’s Camp Pursues Azimio Alliance to Halt Protests
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