Ruto and Odinga Nearing Talks Amid Mounting Pressure
President William Ruto and the leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, Raila Odinga, appear to be allying the midst of a political crisis that has seen the country shaken by deadly demonstrations in recent times, following international intervention.
Mr. Odinga has now stated that he will only take President Ruto’s olive branch for negotiations if a mediator is present.
In response to Dr. Ruto’s request for a one-on-one meeting, the opposition accused him of lacking sincerity in seeking a moratorium and addressing the most pressing issues facing Kenyans.
On Tuesday, the Head of State offered to meet with Mr. Odinga, just hours after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader said he had no difficulty speaking with the President.
“Dear friend Raila Odinga, I am leaving for Tanzania to attend a meeting on human capital to coordinate the expansion of employment opportunities on our continent. As you already know, I am always available for a one-on-one meeting at your discretion. I will return tomorrow evening. WsR (William Samoei Ruto),” tweeted the President.
The invitation arrived hours after Mr. Odinga disclosed that Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu’s efforts to mediate a truce between them two weeks ago failed because Dr. Ruto did not meet with her.
Dr. Ruto declined the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, it was revealed. “I insist there must be a third party between us. President Ramaphosa wishes to visit, but Dr. Ruto has declined. The President of Suluhu is present. Mr. Odinga stated that there must be a mediator, even if it is a former president.
According to Mr. Odinga, President Ruto is uninterested in resolving the crisis and instead manipulates the opposition. “I believe he is essentially teasing. He does not take dialogue seriously. If he wishes to converse, I am prepared for a serious conversation with no chit-chat. Mr. Odinga stated, “Because he changes his story and denies the same thing the next day, we need a witness to be present.”
Mr. Odinga told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in response to Dr. Ruto’s tweet on Tuesday evening, “He [Dr. Ruto] is not someone you can trust; he constantly changes and twists words.” Mr. Odinga also revisited his Tuesday statement on President Suluhu’s visit to Kenya, reiterating that she was there for two days at Dr. Ruto’s invitation, but he was absent.
“He requested that we communicate. He invited even President Suluhu. “She traveled here and spent two days, but he failed to appear,” Mr. Odinga stated.
He continued, “I was there with the President of Tanzania, but he vanished and refused to attend.” Mr. Odinga stated that the Azimio team had agreed that he would be prepared to negotiate if a third party was willing to serve as a mediator.
Mr. Odinga reiterated his willingness to speak in an interview yesterday, after leading the nation in lighting candles in memory of victims of police brutality during anti-government protests, but expressed reservations about the President.
“The nation is in a very precarious circumstance that demands seriousness. The President is aware of my address and phone number. Mr. Odinga stated that now is not the time for public relations exercises. Eugene Wamalwa, co-principal of Azimio, deemed President Ruto’s invitation “too casual to be taken seriously.”
“No official communication has been received even though this is a matter of grave national significance. We did not anticipate such a casual invitation,” Mr. Wamalwa said.
He continued, “If Ruto is sincere, he should have handled the invitation as he did the first time… But we do not take the nonchalant one seriously.”
GossipA2Z noted that the international community’s intervention has created a conducive environment for negotiations despite the President’s camp’s hardliners.
“The diplomats have requested that the Opposition first recognize Dr. Ruto as President… and after weeks, we have observed the Opposition leader allude to him as President. This is favorable.”
A senior source privy to the discussions told GossipA2Z, “On the other hand, the President has been advised to put the country first and not be pulled back by hardliners and to open his doors for talks, and he is warming up to that.”
He noted that the Opposition has altered the name of its protests from “anti-government” to “anti-tax” in recent years. The Ruto administration has accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of financing Mr. Odinga’s efforts to destabilize GossipA2Z, according to a separate source.
During his interview with editors on Monday, Mr. Kenyatta for the first time publicly acknowledged President Ruto as his leader, contrary to his previous stance, expressed during a roadside rally in Kisumu after attending the funeral of former Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, that Mr. Odinga remained his President.
Some key allies of the President, however, have maintained a hard-line posture, alleging that Mr. Odinga’s goal is to obtain a share of government positions, which he has vehemently denied.
In a speech in Italy, where he is attending an official function, Vice President Rigathi Gachagua accused Mr. Odinga of blackmailing the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“In each election, he has employed violence to gain power. After the 1997 elections, he collaborated with [former President Daniel Arap] Moi to enter the government. In 2007, he entered the government via the [grand coalition government], whereas in 2017 he [blackmailed] Mr. Kenyatta into the ‘handshake’. “He is attempting to intimidate us into joining the government, but we’re telling him it can’t be done because it would constitute extortion, which is a crime under the Kenyan Penal Code,” the DP charged.
“Therefore, to sit with someone who is blackmailing you is to be complicit in a crime,” he continued. These church leaders who are urging us to sit with him are asking us to commit a felony, and President Ruto and I have informed them that we are unwilling to do so.
Secretary-General of the ruling party United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Cleophas Malala stated that Mr. Odinga should only prepare for a “brief” meeting with the President, should one occur. “Dr. Ruto is the President of the entire Kenyan population. He can converse with anyone. This does not inherently indicate that he is willing to share the government. Mr. Malala suggested that Mr. Raila prepare for a brief meeting where the discussion will be limited to an open exchange of ideas.
Ndindi Nyoro, a representative from Kiharu, appeared to reject the international community’s calls for mediation, stating that Kenyan issues could be addressed locally.
“According to the President, he is the President of all Kenyans. That he listens to Kenyans from diverse backgrounds. In addition, he does not need mediators to engage Kenyans. Either locally or elsewhere”
“As far as dialogue and negotiations are concerned, it must be made plain that we will not engage in any dialogue that touches on previous elections or governance. Mr. Nyoro stated that there is no backdoor access to the government.
He added, “Voting is the only means by which democracy can be achieved. Not through maandamano or conversation. That will not transpire.” Francis Mwangangi, the deputy governor of Machakos, praised the discussions between the President and Mr. Odinga, stating that they would reduce tensions in the country.
Mr. Mwangangi stated, “If these two leaders meet today and even have a cup of tea, the political tension in the country will be drastically reduced, thereby enhancing national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.” However, he suggested that both leaders consider inviting additional leaders to the negotiations.
Their encounter will do Kenyans a great deal of good. Mr. Mwangangi stated that they will become statesmen as a result of putting the nation first at the meeting.
Yesterday, the White House refuted allegations that President Ruto had refused to meet with Tanzanian President Suluhu for mediation talks but did not deny her entry into the country. When asked about Mr. Odinga’s claims, State House spokesman Hussein Mohamed was unable to provide a direct response.
Mr. Mohamed stated, “For Kilo Rais ambaye anakuja (every President who visits Kenya) or any President who arrives to meet the President of Kenya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established protocols.
Therefore, they will communicate and manage all protocols, and we will be aware that a visiting Head of State has arrived to meet with the President of the Republic. This does not mean a president cannot visit a country for vacation or other purposes.”
He continued, “However, for all the presidents who have met with the President of Kenya, it is documented. Multiple heads of state have met with the President of Kenya by protocols established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hiyo ingine, ndugu yangu, aliyesema alikuwa hapa (the rest, my brother, whoever said she was here) seems to be the most appropriate person to ask.”
President Ruto could not meet his counterpart for talks, according to State House sources, because Mr. Odinga’s demonstrations were still ongoing and he refused to call them off.
“His condition for the invitation and meeting was that Mr. Odinga cancels maandamano on Wednesday, at which point he would convene the meeting. However, RAO [Mr. Odinga] refused and stated that maandamano would continue during the meeting. Then, [President Ruto] decided to boycott, according to the source.
However, he verified that the international community had actively participated in the call for dialogue and that the cessation of the protests was evidence of this. “It has everything to do with pressure from foreign missions,” GossipA2Z was informed.
Ruto and Odinga Nearing Talks Amid Mounting Pressure