William Ruto owns up to holding talks with Raila to end demos

"I have engaged the opposition leader and agreed that violence and destruction of property will not be accepted any more in our politics. As head of state, I am obligated to protect every one including those opposed to Kenya Kwanza policies," he said.

He said that Kenya is a democratic country governed by the rule of law and that political competition should not result in violence.

"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.

"Kenya Kwanza manifesto provides for measures to address the cost of living. We are already implementing this and I do not understand why the opposition does not see this. From next week, fertiliser will retail at Sh2,500 per bag down from Sh,3500. Demonstrations will not contribute in any way to address the cost of living," he said.

The president who was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang;ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya and Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani.

He urged the youth to shun demonstrations.

"I want to ask the youth to shun demonstrations but because they do not help them in any way," he said.

Mr Mudavadi accused Raila of pushing for foreigners to mediate issues that are Kenyan.

"The issues raised can be discussed and resolved by Kenyans because we have seen this in Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa and there were no international mediators," he said.

He was referring to the attempt by former Nigerian president Olesegun Obasanjo to mediate the Kenyan issue.

Sources indicated that Ruto and Raila held talks in a Mombasa hotel on Friday aimed at ending weeks of violence that resulted in deaths and destruction of property.

Ruto who has been at the Coast since Thursday last week announced goodies to the region that included investment in the blue economy.