Surprising U-Turn: Ichung’wah Shifts Stance on Ruto-Raila Talks
Planned discussions between President William Ruto and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are uncertain now, as the government, represented by the Kenya Kwanza coalition, has reversed its position on addressing three crucial concerns put forth by the opposition.
Addressing the audience in Murang’a County on Saturday, August 5th, Kimani Ichung’wah, the Kikuyu Member of Parliament and leader of the majority in the National Assembly, expressed his disagreement to deliberate on the examination of the 2022 election outcomes and the issue of the increased cost of living.
Ichung’wah, who is also at the forefront of the Ruto team in the negotiations, mentioned that they will not support discussions focused on the opposition’s participation within the government.
Ichung’wah delivered the statement in Kiambu County while accompanying the President on a five-day excursion focused on development in the Mount Kenya area.
“If they want to reduce the cost of living, let them go to the farm and we can supply them with fertilizer,” he stated.
The legislator contended that he had clear directives from Ruto concerning the upcoming interaction with Azimio. He emphasized that the discussions wouldn’t lead to any official agreement within the government about sharing power.
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Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, offered an opposing viewpoint, suggesting that Ruto should withdraw from the negotiations. Nyoro’s perspective was that the discussions were intended to sidetrack the Kenya Kwanza initiative and Ruto’s lasting impact.
From his side, Ruto restated his strong dedication to generating job prospects for Kenyan citizens via initiatives like the Hustler Fund. He resolutely rejected the idea of forming a government based on a compromise.
“All those tricks they were using to look for ways to get into the government will not work. I want to assure them that I will stand firm when it comes to protests that are used to destroy property.”
In light of Kenya Kwanza’s recent position, the topics open for discussion between the government and the opposition are limited to the restructuring of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Azimio has not yet reacted to the recent changes, which could potentially impede the advancement of the discussions scheduled to begin on Monday, August 7th.
In past media briefings, the opposing party highlighted its unwavering commitment to addressing the concerns it raised.
Appointing fresh IEBC commissioners and managing the expenses of daily life were primary concerns, with establishing the Opposition Leader’s Office coming next in importance.
Surprising U-Turn: Ichung’wah Shifts Stance on Ruto-Raila Talks
