• The President made the revelation on Tuesday night via Twitter ahead of his travel to Tanzania.
• The President's extension of an olive branch to the opposition chief comes at a time the government is facing growing criticism over high taxation and cost of living.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto has said he is ready to have talks with Azimio leader Raila Odinga at his convenience.
The President made the revelation on Tuesday night via Twitter ahead of his travel to Tanzania.
"My friend @RailaOdinga, I'm off to Tanzania for a human capital meeting to harmonise the expansion of employment opportunities in our continent. I'm back tomorrow evening, and as you have always known, I'm available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience. WsR."
The President's extension of an olive branch to the opposition chief comes when the government is facing growing criticism over high taxation and unbearable cost of living.
The sorry state of affairs prompted Azimo under Raila's stewardship to call for weekly mass protests to force the Kenya Kwanza government to listen to people's cries and lessen the burden.
"The most important discussion in our country today is the high taxes, the rising cost of living and the ensuing protests," Raila said on Tuesday while addressing the international media on the crisis in the country.
He decried what he termed as "unprecedented police brutality" but maintained that the protests were no longer about an individual or party.
"Although Azimio had initiated the Tax Protest, it has since gone beyond the party. After the passage of the Finance Act, Kenyans have defied party, political and regional divides and united to resist punitive taxation and demand the lowering of the cost of basic commodities. The unbearable tax burden is no longer a party issue; it is a Kenyan issue."
Azimio has since early March organised nine street protests to mount pressure on the government to act on the grievances, resulting in the destruction of property and deaths as police clashed with protesters.
The outcome of the chaotic demonstrations which Azimio had said would be peaceful gave rise to growing calls for Ruto to reach a truce with Raila, in the face of a seemingly unresponsive government.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday last week asked Ruto not to agree to talks with Raila whom he has consistently accused of looking for a share of government.
"This is the time to bring an end to political blackmail. Stand firm and do not hold talks with the opposition leader," the DP said while launching road projects in Isiolo County.
It followed renewed street protests by Azimio in early July after bipartisan talks Ruto had agreed to via a parliamentary process collapsed in April.
The clergy, foreign missions and human rights organizations denounced the repression carried out by the police during the protests, including the use of live ammunition.
The opposition claimed on Tuesday that at least 50 people were killed during the three days of demonstrations called held between Wednesday and Friday last week.
"These protests were about the cost of living and excessive taxes, and they will continue," Raila said while announcing the suspension of Wednesday's protests for a vigil in honour of those killed during the protests.
The government on the other hand maintained a hardline stance saying it would deploy all resources within its power to quell any further anti-government demonstrations.
It remains to be seen whether or not Ruto's apparent softening of hardline stance will yield desirable results after Raila recently appeared to change tune and rule out dialogue.
"There is no reason to sit down with him (Ruto) and dialogue because he might not fulfil his pledges," Raila said on Thursday last week during a phone interview with NTV.
"I don't want to trust him because today he will say something and tomorrow change tune and say something else," he added.
On Tuesday, Raila claimed Ruto snubbed Tanzania President Suluhu Hassan who was in the country to mediate talks between them.
"She was kept waiting. We were available but the other faction was not available. Suluhu spent two nights here but it was all in vain," Raila said.
Suluhu's presence in the country appeared to have been kept a highly guarded secret until Raila's revelation.
The Azimio Chief claimed there have been more people who have tried to mediate the talks but Ruto refused.
"I have said I am ready to sit with the people and discuss these issues. Ruto is actually pretending and he is living in the delusion that we don't have a crisis," he said.