- DP Gachagua has also avoided commenting on the issue regarded as a hot potato even as the Azimio leaders threaten more action.
- During the tours, Ruto will be accompanied by politicians from his camp that has been abrasive towards the Opposition leader.
Image: PCS
Focus now turns on President William Ruto as the war of words between his allies and Opposition chief Raila Odinga rages over a new list of demands from Azimio.
The move by Ruto to open talks on the re-constitution of the IEBC panel has sparked a debate among leaders from the two factions who are proving to be the game changers in the process.
Ruto who returned Wednesday from his foreign trip has organised a series of activities in Kwale, Nyandarua and Nakuru and it is highly expected that he will show light on the matter and declare his stand.
And, with the President having opened the way for talks and keen not to derail the process of achieving a truce, he may as well shun the talk and allow his lieutenants to prosecute the matter.
But, some vocal MPs from the Kenya Kwanza are of the view that should Ruto give in, he will have gone beyond his bounds as the demands are unpractical, a statement echoed by political analyst Godfrey Sang.
"Ruto is definitely going to talk and break his silence about this soon and in fact, he might give him (Raila) an ultimatum on whether he will embrace the route he has proposed to them or leave it," Sang said.
It will be his third public function following the address to the nation that saw a ceasefire.
During the two separate events-Greening of Judiciaries in Africa symposium and the Social Protection Summit, the Head of State steered clear of politics or debate around it.
When asked about the possibility of a Handshake during a recent conference in Rwanda, Ruto reiterated his stand that he was not ready for it.
“As President, I owe it to the people of Kenya to provide leadership,” Ruto responded.
"I want to tell you, there will be no handshake. But there will be an engagement in Parliament on the issues that have been raised.”
During the county tours, Ruto will be accompanied by politicians from his camp that have been abrasive towards the Opposition leader.
The Head of State is proposing a bipartisan approach but Raila has since pushed his demands further insisting the conversation be at the national level and through a process akin to the 2008 National Accord.
He proposed that the Coalition form a team drawn from its ranks both in Parliament and outside.
Audit of servers and high cost of living are some of the other issues, he said, the team should deliberate on, or else they resume their demonstrations.
“We assure our people and Kenyans that our eyes are firmly on the ball, and reiterate that we shall go back to the people at the earliest sign of lack of seriousness by the other side,” Raila said in a statement.
UDA has told Raila not to mistake the President's Olive branch as a sign of cowardice as it rubbished the new demands as 'unworkable'.
"We want to categorically state that, we as a party, shall not accept any process that is outside the purview of the constitution or offends the law as established," party secretary general Cleophas Malala said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has also avoided commenting on the issue regarded as a hot potato even as the Azimio leaders threaten more action.
“I do not have much to say today when Kenya is peaceful. Businesses are uninterrupted and Kenyans are busy,” he said Tuesday during an event attended by Ruto.
Kenya Kwanza has planned its Parliamentary Group meeting for Tuesday next week to be chaired by Ruto.
Raila on his part has summoned his troops for a similar meeting today.