NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 6 — Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has defended Azimio Party’s demand for an externally mediated national dialogue saying Opposition Leader Raila Odinga had no intention to bargain for a coalition with President William Ruto.
Odinga has demanded for a national dialogue fashioned as the 2008 National Accord talks mediated by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan that saw President Mwai Kibaki appoint him as Prime Minister.
He walked back from an initial acceptance of a bipartisan parliamentary process proposed by President Ruto after weeks of destructive street protests that saw demonstrators loot businesses and vandalize infrastructure in Nairobi and Kisumu.
While seeking to dismiss suspicions from Ruto’s side, the Senate Minority Whip said a national dialogue “simply means a process not controlled by one person.”
“National Accord does not mean Nusu Mkate! It simply means a process not controlled by one person,” Olekina said Thursday.
His statement comes even as both sides of the political divided continue to trade barbs over some of the demands issued by Odinga following a truce which saw the suspension of anti-government protests.
No handshake
While the Kenya Kwanza brigade have maintained that they will not agree to a “handshake” with Odinga which carries the connotation of inclusion of opposition in government.
Azimio has warned that its followers will return to the streets if there demands are not met.
On Thursday President Ruto and allies maintained hardline positions on the planned talks insisting Odinga’s demands could only be addressed by a bi-partisan team in Parliament.
Speaking during the launch of the Mwache Multipurpose Dam in Kwale County, President Ruto said all his energy is focused towards implementing his economy transformative agenda and not how to create slots to accommodate people.
Speaking at a separate function in Kiambu, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua affirmed that he was opposed to a handshake arrangement.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah added that the Kenya Kwanza MPs have already come up with their team for the talks when Parliament resumes on Tuesday, August 11.
