NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has issued a series of demands, that he says should be met before the proposed national dialogue can take place.
In a statement, the opposition leader who is now working with the government and his allies set to join Cabinet, avoided the controversial return of 6 Cabinet Secretaries just a few days after their dismissal.
Odinga has come under sharp criticism for speaking the language of President William Ruto – in what has characterized his long political career, often brokering deals with governments of the day.
Among his demands are the compensation of victims of police brutality and the dismissal of all cases related to recent protests.
Odinga also called for the release of all individuals who have been abducted or jailed in connection with the protests, and the resolution of grievances raised by health workers and junior secondary school (JSS) teachers.
Additionally, Odinga has demanded the government to discard the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and revert to the old National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
He also insisted on the prosecution of security officers who committed crimes during the protests.
“Once these issues are resolved, we can focus on a national conversation, conducted transparently in a neutral venue,” Odinga stated.
He proposed that representatives for the dialogue should be drawn from a broad spectrum of society, including youth, government officials, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and teachers.
Odinga outlined the key topics to be addressed in the dialogue, which include governance, the escalating cost of living, the eradication of tribalism, the fight against corruption, and debt and fiscal management.
President William Ruto recently called for the formation of a national multi-sectoral forum to address the concerns raised by the youth in the wake of nationwide protests.
The dialogue process, initially scheduled to begin last Monday, has faced delays due to unresolved issues between the opposition and the government.
Speaking to the press last Thursday, Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura acknowledged the ongoing discussions on both sides.
“Discussions are ongoing within both sides. As you may be aware, the opposition has its supporters and they have to dialogue first just as we are doing on our side,” he said.
Mwaura also mentioned that no final list of participants for the forum has been released yet.
“It is also important to note that we must not necessarily sit and talk. We may even use technology and agree on any issues. So let us be patient,” he added.
