Raila’s Reason for Not Meeting Ruto Physically Despite Truce Talks
On Tuesday, May 9, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga attributed the delay in meeting with President William Ruto to the inability of the 14-member bipartisan committee to agree on a course of action.
During an interview with digital media outlets, the ODM leader stated that he would meet Ruto once the committee had reached a definitive agreement on the issues at hand.
He added that it was too soon for them to meet because their teams had not yet reached an agreement on the framework for the cease-fire.
In addition, he cited the 2007 post-election conflicts in which he met former President Mwai Kibaki after their appointed representatives reached a power-sharing agreement.
“When there were issues in 2007, Kibaki and my team sat under the direction of Kofi Annan, and after they reached an agreement, they came to us and we sat with former Tanzanian presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Benjamin Mkapa.
“Therefore, the time for my face-to-face meeting with Ruto has not yet arrived,” he stated.
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In contrast, he criticized Kenya Kwanza for the delays in the bipartisan negotiations, emphasizing the need for the team to resume negotiations in earnest.
He added that he decided to call off the protests after Ruto’s team conceded ground in response to the visit of high-ranking dignitaries, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“Ruto alone is not the problem. The problem affects the entire Kenya Kwanza team. He is one of the group. “There is no reason for me to meet with him because his team will not accommodate our requests,” he stated.
“Now they are delaying the negotiations, claiming that the majority of their members will not be in town until May 15,” Raila claimed.
Ruto and Raila have not met in public since the Kenya Kwanza candidate won the 2022 General Election.
The bipartisan committee led by Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo and his Tharaka counterpart George Murugara resumed negotiations on May 5 after Kenya Kwanza removed Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan from the group.
Ali Rasso Dido, a member of the Parliament of Saku, succeeded Keynan.
In addition, the team decided to appoint attorneys Paul Mwangi and Muthomi Thiankolu as point secretaries – a decision pushed by Raila.
Raila’s Reason for Not Meeting Ruto Physically Despite Truce Talks
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