The push for talks to end the country's political crisis has taken a new twist with opposition chief Raila Odinga demanding the presence of a mediator.
The Azimio coalition leader said that in as much as he is ready for dialogue with President William Ruto, such talks will only happen if a third-party mediator was present.
“He is not somebody you can trust, he keeps changing words that is why I insist there must be a mediator between us,” Raila was quoted as having told AFP on Wednesday.
“I am ready to talk if there is a mediator between us.”
This would be a departure from his 2018 talks with Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta with whom they met at Harambee House before shaking hands.
Raila would then work closely with Uhuru who also backed his 2022 presidential candidature before losing to President Ruto at the ballot.
If the Ruto side agrees to a mediator spearheading the talks, then they could take the model of the 2007-008 dialogue that birthed the government of National Unity.
Former United National Secretary-General Kofi Annan was the lead mediator who brokered a deal between Raila and then President Mwai Kibaki.
Raila has stated that he is not after a handshake, a euphemism for power sharing, with President Ruto whom he has claimed he defeated in the 2022 polls.
President Ruto had on Tuesday evening told Raila that he is ready to meet him for one on one talks at the opposition leader's convenience.
"My friend @RailaOdinga, am off to Tanzania for a human capital meeting to harmonise the expansion of employment opportunities in our continent. Am back tomorrow evening, and as you have always known, am available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience," the president said on Tuesday.
However, President Ruto has never publicly discussed the possibility of third-party mediation even as it was claimed that Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu had been snubbed.
Raila had claimed that Suluhu was in the country for two days to mediate talks with Ruto but the government side refused the offer.
