National dialogue fails to kick off as leaders divided

Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga and other political leaders during burial service of the late Henry Ongoma Oparanya at Emabole primary school, Butere Sub country in Kakamega county on July 13, 2024. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

President William Ruto's planned multi-sectoral forum dialogue failed to kick off Monday with leaders appearing to read from different scripts.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga who last week joined Ruto in support of dialogue appears to have back peddled with Azimio principals Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa and Martha Karua vehemently opposed to the talks.

A meeting of Azimio principals to take a common stand failed to take off with Raila said to have spent the better day of Monday at his private offices in Nairobi attending to personal issues.

The opposition leader who led the Azimio brigade to Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums on Sunday made it clear that dialogue with the government was not possible after bodies were found dumped in Kware.

"There is no dialogue, we want action, Kenya has to move forward, we cannot dialogue with an administration that is involved in such heinous acts like this killings of innocent Kenyans at Mukuru kwa Njenga, we are not going to talk with people whose hands are full of blood," he said.

Raila demanded for the prosecution of former Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome and Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei over the manner in which they have handled Gen Z protests leaving dozens dead and scores injured.

The former Prime Minister called for dissolution of Parliament and elections to ensure Kenyans vote for leaders who have the best interests of the country at heart.

Wiper leader Kalonzo said that with the current happenings it was clear that Kenyans did not have a good government in place and there was no way they are going to dialogue with the administration after the killing of innocent Kenyans.

"I am very certain that Kenyans do not want us to dialogue with this administration that has been oppressive to them in the last 20 months it has been in power with killings of innocent youths who were only agitating for good governance worsening the situation," he said.

DAP-K leader Wamalwa said that it was clear Kenyans were not interested in dialogue and wanted the President to resign since he had failed the country and presided over an incompetent administration.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna argued that Koome's resignation was not enough since Bungei was still the police commander who has presided over the killings and maiming of youthful protesters who were only armed with water bottles phones.

Ruto had called for a six-day multi-sectoral forum dialogue bringing together 150 representatives from various sectors focusing on issues affecting the country including bad governance, youth unemployment, ballooning public debt, corruption and tribalism.

"We have agreed that we have to bring the country together, that is why we will be having a multi-sectoral forum dialogue bringing together 150 participants with 50 of them being youths while 100 of them coming from the religious community, civil society, political parties and professional groups," said Ruto.

The President said that the forum is expected to come up with proposals to move the country forward following weeks of protests by Generation Z with the talks being supported by Raila who had joined the President during the assent to the IEBC Act 2024.

Raila who had joined Ruto last week said that the country was willing to listen to the grievances of the Gen Z protesters who have expressed dissatisfaction in the manner in which the government was being run.

"This forum will help the country move forward by identifying the grievances that the youths of Kenya have and coming up with long term solutions since they have valid concerns that needs to be addressed urgently," the Azimio leader said.