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Six leaders who brokered Ruto and Raila talks to end political unrest

Ruto allies Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah together with Raila's confidants former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Suna East MP Mohamed Junet and political strategist Prof Makau Mutua played a critical role in brokering the peace talks.

Sources told The Standard that the leaders had secretly been talking with the Head of State and the opposition chief to come to the round table to end the anti-government protests that had led to the loss of lives and disrupted business.

Murkomen, Ichung'wah and Sudi are said to have separately convinced Ruto to meet Raila to cool down the political temperatures in the country.

Both Ruto and Raila had come under intense international pressure to put their heads together, with international calls made from Washington and London. Ruto had been advised against agreeing to talks through politically active mediators such as sitting presidents or neighbour personalities.

It is then the name of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo was broached, a man both parties hold in high esteem. Long retired, ageing and having previously dealt with them in the post-2008 election crisis, they easily consented to his name.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The meeting in Runda, which went late into the night was chaired by Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and was attended by some governors and leaders from the region.

A source said that the leaders were concerned that talks with Raila will be like rewarding impunity given that the businessmen in Nairobi had suffered every time the Azimio leader called for protests.

"The leaders were concerned that talks with Raila would send a wrong message that even after losing elections all one needed to do is cause chaos to get to the table of negotiation. They raised concern that Ruto could easily go the former President Uhuru Kenyatta way by allowing talks with the Azimio leader," said the source.

While speaking in Ukunda during a church meeting, Ruto said that he had engaged the opposition leader and agreed that violence and destruction of property will not be accepted any more in the country's politics.

"We can compete but there should be no room for violence. We agreed this cannot happen anymore. We cannot negotiate this," he said.

Ruto said Kenya Kwanza has a robust plan and was already addressing cost of living but noted that it cannot be resolved immediately.