The leader of the Umoja One Kenya coalition party, Raila Odinga, has announced his intention to mobilize his supporters for street protests next month if the bi-partisan talks between the opposition and Kenya Kwanza do not yield results.
Speaking at the burial of a protester who was fatally shot during the suspended demonstrations, Odinga emphasized that Azimio is willing to engage in talks but will only accept solutions that address the issues it has raised regarding President William Ruto’s government.
Azimio’s demands include a decrease in the cost of living, an audit of the 2022 elections, a bipartisan restructuring of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), its participation in national matters, and recognition of political parties.
Odinga stated, “We are ready for dialogue without conditions; they should also not impose conditions on us. However, if they are not ready to engage and agree on our terms, we are saying that after 30 days, Kenyans will take different actions.”
Odinga’s statement followed Kenya Kwanza’s request to reschedule the bipartisan talks from Monday to Thursday of the following week.
The ruling coalition’s team leader, Kimani Ichung’wah, conveyed in a letter to Kalonzo Musyoka, his Azimio counterpart, that the proposed August 7 date by the opposition does not align with Kenya Kwanza’s recent formation of a 5-member delegation.
