Give dialogue a chance, opposition leaders urged

Nyeri, Thursday April 13, 2023

K.N.A By Samuel Maina

A section of Nyeri residents are calling for the opposition to give the much awaited bi-partisan talks a chance instead of threatening to go back to the people’s barazas.

This is after the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leaders warned of a new round of public forums after accusing the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance of being insincere ahead of the planned talks.

 On Tuesday, Kenya Kwanza unveiled its seven-member team that is expected to represent the ruling coalition in the talks that majority of Kenyans hope will put to an end the current grandstanding between the government and the opposition.

But the opposition immediately faulted the government side for picking for Eldas MP Adan Keynan as one of their representatives, despite having been elected on a Jubilee party ticket, arguing that he was still a member of the Azimio coalition.

 Early this week, Minority Leader and Unguja MP Opiyo Wandayi complained over plans to sabotage the talks by discarding their main points of grievances including discussion about the current high cost of living and fixing of pertinent issues affecting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

But Joseph Njoroge, termed as reckless the opposition threat to start streaming back into the streets even before those tasked with addressing their grievances have sat down.

“We all saw how businesses suffered following the recent demonstrations that the opposition had called in protest against the high cost of living among other grievances. As we are speaking now, many traders are still reeling from the losses that emanated from the demos. I am just hoping the country will not go back to that direction and our leaders will give dialogue a chance,” he pointed out.

On his part, Kinaru Maina says while the issues being raised by the opposition leader Raila Odinga are genuine, they should not be used as an excuse in settling political scores between the opposition and the government.

Maina insists that the work of the opposition should be restricted to oversight on matters of national importance but not making lives of the citizens unbearable through endless demonstrations that end up destroying people’s businesses.

“As citizens we need to interrogate ourselves on whether we really need to go back to the streets or give dialogue a chance. At the end of the day the leaders who are rallying people into the streets retire to their homes leaving the demonstrators worse off than before and with nothing to take back to their families,” he states.

However, Ezekiel Wambugu, a second-hand clothes dealer at Kamukunji Market opines that he has no problem with the opposition going back to the streets as long as they ensure no one gets harmed in the process.

“It is the duty of the opposition to speak on our behalf and equally the mandate of the government to also ensure that everybody is secure during the protests. If the talks do not bear any fruits, then the opposition has the right to go back to the people and explain the next course of action,” he argues.

Mercy Wanjiru, on her part decried the increasing cases of people invading private property alleging that the activities are symptoms of a collapsing society.

Wanjiru blamed politicians for the illegal invasions and deadly demos and accused such leaders of dishing cash to jobless youths to engage in criminal activities.

“Let us not forget that the majority of the young people pouring into the streets are actually hired by politicians who have a totally different agenda from the protesters. In fact, most of those invading peoples’ farms and going for demonstrations in the streets are only doing so since they have been paid and not necessarily because they have an attachment to the cause,” she explains.

While Raila has insisted on addressing the entire list of Azimio demands which include high cost of living and a comprehensive audit of the 2022 election results, President William Ruto has maintained the talks will only touch on the constitution of the IEBC selection process.

Among Kenya Kwanza legislators who will sit at the planned bi-partisan talks include Senators Boni Khalwale(Kakamega), Hillary Sigei(Bomet), Esther Okenyuri (nominated), Tharaka MP George Murugara, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, Eldas MP Adan Keynan and Taita Taveta Woman Representative Lydia Haika.

On their side, Azimio la Umoja has selected Senators Ledama Ole Kina (Narok), Senator Edwin Sifuna(Nairobi), Senator Enoch Wambua(Kitui) Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, Pokot South MP David Pkosing, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and their Malindi counterpart Amina Mnyazi.

Courtesy K.N.A