Stop dismembering Opposition, Raila tells Ruto

"Mr Ruto must stop looking at the Opposition in a derogative manner. He has invaded the opposition."

In Summary

• The demand for Ruto to respect multiparty democracy adds to the previous three demands that largely informed the call for mass action.

• The clergy has over the past few weeks been appealing to Raila to call off the mass demonstrations and give room for dialogue with the President.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga speaks during a press conference at the Jaramogi Odinga Oginga Foundation on March 28, 2023.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga speaks during a press conference at the Jaramogi Odinga Oginga Foundation on March 28, 2023.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has called on President William Ruto to respect multiparty democracy if he wants to see an end to mass protests.

It is the latest of his preconditions to the head of State in light of any possibility of them having any "meaningful talks".

In an interview with the BBC on Monday night, Raila accused Ruto of 'dismembering the opposition' by way of wooing Azimio legislators to the Kenya Kwanza side.

"Mr Ruto must stop looking at the Opposition in a derogative manner. He has invaded the opposition. We as Azimio la Umoja One Kenya had the majority of members of the National Assembly, we had the majority of members of the county assembly, also senators and governors," Raila said.

"But as soon as he was declared the winner, he embarked on the process of basically dismembering the opposition. People who were elected on Azimio's ticket are now voting with Mr Ruto," he said.

The demand for Ruto to respect multiparty democracy adds to the previous three demands that largely informed the call for mass action.

This includes the opening of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission servers, suspension of unilateral reconstitution of the IEBC and lowering of the cost of living.

Raila said that should a member of any party deem it fit to ditch the party on the ticket he was elected to Parliament, he must first resign and seek a fresh mandate under the new party's ticket.

The clergy has over the past few weeks been appealing to Raila to call off the mass demonstrations and give room for dialogue with the President.

Raila, however, dismissed them saying he is not interested in anything else short of justice.

"Our answer to the clergy is in the gospel, I want to quote John 8:32 - Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free," Raila said at a press conference on March 23.

The President has on his part said that he is willing to engage anyone across the country so long as this is done within the confines of the law.

"I'm ready to engage with any leader if we are discussing the future of our country in a constitutional, legal manner. But I'm not going to engage in anarchy, you are not going to threaten us with ultimatums and chaos," the President said during a prayer meeting at Kapsabet Showground in Nandi County on March 19. 

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