Ruto’s Tactics Force Raila to Halt Demonstrations
Strategic envoys from both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja went into overdrive mere minutes before former prime minister Raila Odinga canceled the planned anti-government demonstration on Wednesday, May 3.
Azimio’s late-night announcement came after the two coalitions reached an agreement on proposals to amend the constitution to create the positions of official opposition leader and prime minister.
President William Ruto told delegates attending the Mo Ibrahim Foundation conference in Nairobi on Monday, May 1 that he was in the process of reaching an agreement on how to best establish a system that ensures the ruling coalition is held accountable.
Ruto stated, “The Leader of the Official Opposition is crucial in a democracy such as ours because he or she helps us remain accountable to the people who elected us.”
On March 26, 2023, Raila Odinga-led Azimio leaders attend a worship service at Jesus Teaching Ministry in Embakasi.
Ruto is a tactical genius who knows how to corner his opponents, according to Kassim Tandaza, one of the many political analysts who weighed in on the recent events.
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Even though he conceded to a compromise, the President demonstrated that he was not a pushover who could be manipulated.
Kassim remarked, “The President enticed Azimio la Umoja with an irresistible bait, but the negotiation table demonstrates that Ruto understood what he was doing.”
Kassim elaborated that President William Ruto will continue to be the most significant opponent Raila Odinga will face in the future.
Nelima Wako, the executive director of Siasa Place and a political commentator, opined that President Ruto displayed a tactical maneuver by being flexible enough to reach a compromise with Raila.
“The entire discussion began with the high cost of living, then shifted to the opening of IEBC servers, but it’s now abundantly clear that it’s all about interests.
“Having observed this, it was only prudent for the President to accommodate sentiments with which he disagrees, as it is evident that people are weary of campaign rhetoric,” Wako stated.
She remarked that the compromise was timely and will promote national unity by increasing the representation of diverse regions and communities in government.
“However, I am concerned that our leaders do not recognize the gravity of the situation and are unwilling to look beyond political animosity to focus on larger issues,” she stated.
A faction of the Jubilee Party staged a political coup against Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, thereby complicating the negotiations that had been ongoing for days.
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Sources close to both President William Ruto and Raila Odinga disclosed to GossipA2Z that the two political parties hardly communicated with one another after some Jubilee officials attempted to remove Uhuru as the official Party Leader.
“The discussions were productive until they attempted to remove Uhuru. According to a source close to Azimio la Umoja, they only intended to humiliate him and the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
However, Azimio emissaries resumed behind-the-scenes negotiations after it became clear that the alleged removal of Uhuru as leader of the Jubilee Party was nothing but hot air.
“What we are witnessing in the Jubilee Party is irresponsible and improper behavior on the part of a few individuals. Ndiritu Muriithi, the former governor of Laikipia, stated in support of Uhuru Kenyatta, “I hope they will resolve their differences.”
The refusal of Pokot South Member of Parliament David Pkosing to recuse himself from the bipartisan committee was also at stake.
In addition to President Ruto’s decision to reach out to Raila through emissaries, both leaders were under intense pressure from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, and Japan to call a truce and end the increasingly violent clashes between opposition protesters and police.
Ruto’s Tactics Force Raila to Halt Demonstrations
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