Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has called off Monday’s demonstrations in order to give a chance for dialogue between them and the government.
Raila who spoke two hours after President William Ruto said that his side has accepted the offer issued by the state for dialogue.
“We still reserve our right to demonstrate if these talks do not result in meaningful discussions,” said Raila.
Ruto had
President William Ruto appealed to Azimio la Umoza to halt its anti-government demonstrations which were set to enter the third week tomorrow.
The president has acknowledged that the demonstrations were badly hurting the country’s economy and image internationally.
“The country’s economy has been hit hard at a time when my administration is doing everything possible to salvage the economy from the deep hole where we found it,” said the president.
“I have carefully listened to the issues raised by my friend Raila Odinga. In times like these, it is not about who is right or who is wrong. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak but it is also what it takes to sit down and listen,” he said.
The president who has for weeks chided the opposition has in a remarkable departure called for discussions between Azimio and his government.
“My door remains open for honest, objective and sincere deliberations based on the rule of law and the constitution,” he said.
The President however said the country should not find itself in the same position it was in following the handshake between opposition chief Raila Odinga and then-President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“As a believer in the rule of law and running an accountable government, our position is that we should never be in the position where this country was put in by the handshake where there is no distinction between the government and the opposition,” said Ruto.
