President Ruto Calls for End to Violence in Azimio, Paves Way for Peace Talks
President William Ruto has stated that his administration will prohibit the use of violence in political contests.
Referring to the opposition’s street demonstrations, the Head of State stated that he is open to all forms of dialogue, except those accompanied by violence and disturbances.
President Ruto gave hints of his readiness for talks with the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition while presiding over the performance contracts of the government’s top officers on Tuesday.
“Using violence as a currency for politics in Kenya, thereby causing the death of other citizens; in the same way we said no to extrajudicial killings, we have said no to violence as a means of politics in Kenya,” stated the President in his State House address.
“We can discuss all other issues, but violence has no place in the equation of our national politics.”
As a result of the anti-government protests, the country, according to Ruto, experienced loss of life and the proliferation of death squads.
“I dare say that we did not eliminate the extrajudicial killings that resulted in the deaths of nearly 200 Kenyans who ended up in the River Yala, Tana River, and Aberdares so that we could embrace another culture of impunity,” he stated.
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Odinga’s coalition, Azimio, appointed Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as their chief negotiator just one day before the President’s remarks.
Other members of the opposition dialogue team include Eugene Wamalwa (leader of the DAP-Kenya), Opiyo Wandayi (chief of the National Assembly minority), Okong’o Omogeni (senator from Nyamira), and Amina Mnyazi (member of parliament from Malindi).
The Kenya Kwanza team has not yet disclosed the names of the five players who will compete against their Azimio counterparts.
During a meeting with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the two coalitions agreed to form a joint committee with ten members, including the majority and minority leaders of the National Assembly.
Raila Odinga presided over a Parliamentary Group meeting at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) offices in Lang’ata Constituency as the President spoke at State House.
The Azimio coalition is rumored to have deliberated on the framework of the negotiations, the start date of which is still unknown.
President Ruto Calls for End to Violence in Azimio, Paves Way for Peace Talks
