Why Raila allies remain mum after deal with Ruto - Osotsi

Hours after President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga announced a ceasefire to allow room for dialogue, the Azimio la Umoja leader’s allies remain conspicuously quiet.

Starting from the top of Azimio leadership; Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka and Wycliffe Oparanya as well as the parliamentary leaders have all remained silent.

However, Karua and Kalonzo were present when Raila addressed the nation where he called off protests.

Azimio MPs have also shied away from speaking on the same, except for a few who have only commended the move.

A spot check by The Star revealed they are yet to say a word about the deal between Raila and President Ruto.

But according to Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, their silence does not mean they are dissatisfied with the agreement but they are abiding by what their party leader Raila Odinga said.

He told the Star that in the next one week, if they are not satisfied with the outcome of negotiations, they will revert to protests.

"Our party leader in yesterday's statement gave three irreducible minimums which if not met, we will revert back to the protests on Monday next week. We also cannot stop Kenya Kwanza people from talking. They are the ones who said Ruto will never dialogue with Raila and it is happening," he said.

The same leaders have been accompanying the former Prime Minister to all his anti-government rallies.

It remains to be seen how the talks between the two leaders will progress.

On Sunday President William Ruto agreed to Azimio’s demand to be included in the IEBC Commissioners’ recruitment process.

He, however, referred the process back to parliament where a bi-partisan formula for the recruitment will be agreed upon.

The process of hiring the commissioners had started and over 900 people had applied for the same.

"I have carefully listened to the issues raised by my friend, the Honourable Raila Odinga in times like this, it is not about who is right or who is wrong like Winston Churchill said, I dare say, like, quote, courage is what it takes to stand up and speak," Ruto said.

In response, the Azimio side led by Raila listed conditions that will form the basis of the dialogue they are expected to hold.

He asked for the release of all protesters arrested during demos, withdrawal of court cases Azimio supporters and allies are facing over demos, reinstatement of the four IEBC Commissioners who resigned and create a committee with strict deadlines to dissolve the crisis facing the country.

Raila insisted that failure to do this in the next one week, the protests will return.

Leaders allied to Kenya Kwanza have also largely commended the move by Ruto and Raila to give dialogue a chance.