NAKURU, Kenya, Jul 15 – The government will not negotiate with Opposition leader Raila Odinga or have any form of conversation with him, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking in Nakuru on Friday, Gachagua added that Odinga wanted to blackmail government so that he can be accommodated in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He stated that the opposition leader was staging violent protests and destruction of property in a bid to blackmail the President William Ruto-led government and force another handshake.
He said the intended result of the Raila-led demonstrations is for the former Prime Minister to get a share of the government.
“Let nobody try to advise us to give in to blackmail. Mr Odinga is destroying Nairobi and causing chaos and to get a share of the government. We shall not give in to blackmail. Let no advisor ask us to negotiate with Mr Odinga so that he can be controlled and call off the demonstrations. This is a trend that he has formed,” said the Deputy President.
He spoke after officially opening the Nakuru Agricultural Society of Kenya national show.
The Deputy President said the government will not allow violent demonstrations to take place.
Responding to calls by Odinga for weekly protests, Gachagua said the demonstrations were being funded by unnamed individuals.
Additionally, the Deputy President said that members of the outlawed Mungiki sect were being used by Mr Odinga to fuel the chaos in Kitengela.
Gachagua stated that President William Ruto won the 2022 elections fairly, the victory was confirmed by the Supreme Court and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the chairman of Odinga’s Azimio Coalition, handed over the instruments of power.
Noting that Odinga has blackmailed successive governments for over 40 years through post-election violence and eventually gets a power-sharing deal, the Deputy President said the Kenya Kwanza government will neither negotiate with him nor give him a share of the government.
“As a government we have said enough is enough and Mr Odinga will not be allowed, under any arrangements again to cause violence, deaths and destroy property. It will not happen. We have a responsibility as a government to protect lives and property,” said Mr Gachagua.
He said the violent demonstrations organized by the Opposition are meant to loot and destroy properties.
“Mr Odinga wants to bring destruction of properties and intimidate the government. His intentions are to blackmail us and demand slots in the government such as Cabinet Secretary position. I want to tell him that we have no time or space to talk with you (Mr Odinga). We are busy serving the people of Kenya, reviving the economy and eradicating illicit brews,” he said.
He continued: “As a government we want to assure you, though we were silent even if we knew his demonstrations cannot be peaceful, any violent demonstrations will not allowed to take place”.
So far 18 people have died in the twin demonstrations organized by the Opposition leaders.
Noting that Odinga has lost five Presidential elections, the Deputy President questioned why the former Prime Minister was keen on having blood shed by engineering violence in the country.
“The people of Kenya rejected you (Odinga) because of violence, you have a lot of chaos and destruction. You are a chaotic person and anywhere you have being, you have left a trail of death and destruction. That is why the people of Kenya have rejected you. We want to advise you to take a break and try to analyze why voters rejected you. Ask yourself what you have offered Kenyans other than death and destruction,” said the Deputy President.
