Leaders ask Raila to abandon demonstrations, embrace bipartisan talks

Kericho, Saturday, April 15, 2023

K.N.A By Dominic Cheres 

Leaders from Kericho have called on Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga to give room for the parliamentary bipartisan talks to address contentious issues facing the country instead of derailing the dialogue by calling for street demonstrations afresh. 

Led by Kipkellion West MP Hilary Kosgei the leaders  said Mr  Odinga’s  threats to call on his supporters to  resume demonstration as  bipartisan talks were taking shape was clear indication that the Azimio team was not interested in talks to resolve their demands  raised against  the Kenya Kwanza administration. 

Kosgei said it was ironic for the Azimio leader to underrate the Kenya Kwanza select team in the negotiations saying that those picked by President William Ruto and his government were serious negotiators since they are elected Members of Parliament.

“We cannot pick majority leaders or any other senior legislators for the talks in order to show seriousness and any elected Member of Parliament being a people’s representative is serious enough to represent Kenya Kwanza in the talks,” Kosgei said.

The Kipkellion West MP told Raila that, “you cannot have your cake and eat it, you either go to the talks with clean hands or you go for demonstrations; there are no two ways about it.” 

He said calls by Mr Odinga for Kenyans to demonstrate against the Kenya Kwanza government is largely economic sabotage by the opposition.

The leaders who included Kipkellion East MP Joseph Cherorot, Kericho County Woman Rep Beatrice Kemei and area Governor Dr Eric Mutai, deputy governor Eng Fred Kirui and Kapsoit MCA Tarimbo urged Raila to abandon his threats to resume   street protests and ensure the bipartisan negotiations succeed. 

The leaders were speaking at Kipkellion girls’ secondary school in Kericho County during a prize and thanks giving day for the school. 

Mr Cherorot and Ms Kemei urged the opposition to abandon their new stand and give the bipartisan talks a chance as they have a task to rebuild the country's economy and unite the country. 

Courtesy K.N.A