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Sunday, April 2, 2023 –Kenya Kwanza administration has finally started coming out of their hardline stance just hours to another titanic mass protests led by Raila Odinga.
Making his first official statement from Statehouse on Sunday April 2, President William Ruto urged the opposition leader to call off all public demonstrations which he revealed have been hurting the economy.
Ruto’s Sunday speech indicated that things were nolonger okay since Raila took his supporters to the streets against his government.
“In these circumstances and in view of the recent events that led to the loss of lives and destruction of property in the demonstrations in the last two weeks,
“…I urge my brother Raila Odinga and the opposition to call off the demonstrations and to give this bipartisan approach a chance for us to take the country forward,” President Ruto stated.
He, therefore, agreed that he can address one of the concerns raised by the opposition on the composition of the new electoral body- the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC.
“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.
The President said the IEBC issue could be taken to the Parliament for a review on how the selection panel should be constituted.
“My suggestion is that this matter can be handled in parliament by a bi-partisan parliamentary process so that we can agree on what it is they have an issue with, and we can adjust as is agreed and as necessary,” Ruto stated.
He, however, reminded the opposition that, should this bi-partisan approach not work, he will not bow to another pressure through Handshakes.
The head of State argued that Handshake formations have killed the opposition in the past and this cannot be way to go since it compromises oversight.
Raila recently listed three key issues he wants addressed; among them IEBC formation, cost of living and opening of August 9 election servers for scrutiny.
