Cornered Raila now woos Gen Z, sets demands for dialogue

Opposition leader Raila Odinga addresses the media after the signing of IEBC bill that was developed from NADCO report into law by President William Ruto.  [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

In what emerges to be a continuation of contradicting stands since Kenya's youngest adults begun their push for good governance in the country, opposition leader Raila Odinga has now dished out a list of conditions without which he will not take part in President William Ruto's proposed talks.

Raila said the ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/politics/article/2001499333/raila-odinga-sets-conditions-for-national-dialogue-talks">listed conditions< should be implemented before he can engage in any talks, a stand that compounds uncertainties on whether the national conversation will ever materialize.

Affirming his dedication to the ongoing reforms, reports indicated that Raila has signaled his readiness to forgo his ambitions at African Union Commission (AUC) for the sake of the nation, if it will be used to manipulate him at the expense of the quest for a better and stable country.

Coming days after standing side by side with President Ruto when he read out a statement to the nation about the need for dialogue, pundits now see an unsettled hand in Raila's new stand.

In a message to the young and resilient generation in the country, Raila said that justice must come first before any talks and supported some of the demands that Gen Z have been advancing.

In what appears to be an effort to win back Gen Z’s confidence and bow to their pressure, Raila highlighted at least six critical issues that should be looked into firsthand, including compensation of every victim of police brutality and dismissal of all protest-related cases.

“Once these issues are resolved, we can focus on a national conversation, and should be conducted transparently in a neutral venue,” said Raila on Sunday as he moved to clear the air on the national dialogue.

Similarly, he said all abductees and those in jail must be released, called for resolution of outstanding healthcare and education grievances as well as reverting of public healthcare insurance back to National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and discarding the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

Raila has also called for the prosecution of all security sector perpetrators who have facilitated atrocities on peaceful Kenyans.

He also proposed that representatives for this convention should come from various sectors including youth, government, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, lawyers and teachers.

Raila insisted that the country must come together to discuss national and constitutional critical issues touching on good governance, skyrocketing cost of living, eradicating tribalism, fighting corruption and debt and fiscal management among others.

“To the young people of Kenya, you must all know that I am deeply moved by your dedication to the cause and I believe a structured dialogue will bring the reforms you are fighting for and safeguard Kenya for your future,” said Raila.

Uncertainty on the way forward for the national dialogue continues after it failed to kick off last week as anticipated.

Raila has been on the receiving end from Gen Z over what they termed not being true to the course, and his presence during assent of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Amendment Bill two weeks ago exacerbated the issue.

He, however, ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/testbed/article/2001499045/national-dialogue-fails-to-kick-off-as-leaders-divided">clarified a day later< his stance on the kind of dialogue that should happen.

“Kenya is at a crossroads and Kenyans must agree. We spoke and agreed for a dialogue with the people and not with Ruto… it is not about going to speak with Ruto or United Democratic Alliance. We want dialogue with the people to pass resolutions for the country,” Raila had to explain.

Reports have also indicated that former President Uhuru Kenyatta has had to meet Raila to consult him over some of the decisions he has recently made.

And at the height of demonstrations held last month, Uhuru told leaders that they were elected by the people and listening to them is not a choice but a mandate enshrined in the principles of the constitution and in the very basis and philosophy of democracy.

“Leaders must know that power and authority they have is donated to them by the people. I therefore call for calm and for the leadership to show restraint and do the right thing by listening to the people and not be antagonistic to them,” Uhuru stated.

At the same time, there have been mixed signals in the Azimio coalition, coming against the backdrop of the leaders meeting last week in the absence of Raila after which they declared that ‘they are not boarding’.

Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka said parties under the coalition held their respective national executive council sessions to discuss the proposed Kenya Kwanza led broad based government of national unity.

He said the Wiper, Jubilee, Democratic Action Party – Kenya (DAP-K), Party of National Unity (PNU) and Narc- Kenya will not participate in or support the proposed broad-based government terming it a betrayal of Kenyans, particularly the Gen Z and millennials who have paid the ultimate price to rid the country of the disastrous regime.

“We will not join for the straightforward reason that such actions are a betrayal of the ideology, values and tenets of both our coalition parties and constituent parties. As long as the Kenya Kwanza regime is in place, absolutely nothing will change. A cabinet re-organization and changing of office holders will only be cosmetic,” said Kalonzo on Friday.

Should any of the Azimio members opt to join the proposed broad based government of national unity, Kalonzo said they will not be party to that decision and lauded the Gen Z for bringing a spirit of re-awakening in the country.

 “We reiterate our public opinion that when it comes to siding with Gen Z and the Kenyan people versus the Kenya Kwanza regime, the decision is as obvious as day and night. We will always side and stand with the people of Kenya,” Kalonzo said.

And added: " The Gen Z have been reminding us of the preamble of our constitution and we thank them for their unrelenting consistency."

Narc Kenya leader, Martha Karua wondered what the Gen Z are being asked to dialogue over yet they are still being abducted and terrorized.

“Let the Gen Z move on and let us support them. Let us have a clean-up of this country. If Ruto was not tone deaf, he would now be saying that any move he makes, he would want it validated by the people,” Karua said.

President Ruto announced a six-day multi-sectoral dialogue forum, which was to begin on July 15 to discuss issues pressing Kenyans, a platform he said was expected to bring together Kenyans from various sectors including political parties, religious groups, civil society, employers and youth but it is yet to come to fruition.

But speaking in Bomet Sunday, Ruto regretted that he has called for dialogue with the young people but they continue to insist they are leaderless and faceless.

Ruto said he heeded to their demands of not passing the Finance Bill, called them for dialogue but they declined and instead, insisted for a session on the X Space, formerly twitter, and did not also agree to his latest call for a conversation.

“Enough is enough... They continue insisting that they are faceless but now I have told them that I have given a chance to everybody to say what they want. It cannot continue like this. The country is much more important than any group of people and we must stand together as a nation, protect our nation and make sure that Kenya is a democracy,” the President uttered.

He called upon Kenyans to maintain peace saying that they must never as a country agree to replace democracy with dictatorship and tyranny of faceless, formless anonymous people who want to use violence, destruction of property and loss of life in place of democracy.

 “We must guard our democracy so that it is not sabotaged by anonymous, faceless people who want to use violence, anarchy and mayhem to control our nation. As a government, we are going firm, determined to protect this country from tyranny of violence, mayhem and anarchy. I challenge those who are sponsoring, orchestrating, funding violence to step forward and give us their alternative views on how to take Kenya forward,” the President said.