NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 11 – For at least a decade now, President William Ruto and Azimio Leader Raila Odinga have been on opposing sides of Kenya’s political divide.
The two leaders who were once allies have been at each other throats since then in Kenya’s murky political landscape where tolerance is often disregarded.
Their differences have in recent months escalated after President Ruto won the August 2022 presidential election but Odinga still disputes.
Odinga lost to President Ruto by a margin of 200, 000 votes in the election billed as Kenya’s most competitive since independence.
The narrow loss denied Odinga his fifth stab to ascend to power despite having the backing of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta who considered him his suitable successor.
Odinga unsuccessfully petitioned the Supreme Court over the election outcome but still holds a contrary view on the subject.
The opposition stalwart has refused to acknowledge Ruto as President and has consistently told him to “vacate office”.
After the loss, Odinga embarked on a mission of staging anti-government protests singling out key among others the high cost of living, the need for electoral reforms in the country, and the opening of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers.
“We commit to fight, resist and defy this illegitimate regime to the end,” he said on March 10, 2022, when he launched the Movement for Defence of Democracy, an outfit he uses to champion his demands.
In what subsequently degenerated into violent protests, Odinga for two straight weeks was on the streets pushing the government to address his grievances.
The weekly chaotic street demonstrations led to the loss of lives of innocent Kenyans and the massive destruction of property.
Religious leaders and members of the international community consequently appealed for a truce between the two leaders.
-Bipartisan Talks-
President Ruto on April 2, 2023, in a bold step, urged Odinga to call off his protests and suggested the creation of a bipartisan parliamentary committee to work through concerns over the electoral process.
“I have carefully listened to the issues raised by my friend Raila Odinga. In times like this, it is not about who is right or who is wrong. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak but it is also what it takes to sit down and listen,” he said.
Odinga consequently hours later suspended his protest drive and committed to engaging with President Ruto through the bipartisan approach via Parliament.
He, however, warned that the coalition would resort to the protest if the process fails to bear any fruit.
“Should there be no meaningful engagement or response from Hon (Honourable) Ruto to our counter-offer, we resolve to resume our demonstrations after one week,” he said.
The process even before it began was hit by turbulence days later after the Azimio coalition demanded that the process should be expanded akin to the 2008 negotiations led by the then chief mediator Kofi Annan and which culminated in the signing of a peace accord between the then President the late Mwai Kibaki and Odinga.
“It is the resolution of this meeting that a purely parliamentary process may not serve the intended ends. Our suggestion is to have a conversation at the national level through a process akin to the 2008 National Accord,” he said.
The Kenya Kwanza leaders opposed Odinga’s fresh demands and accused him of trying to bulldoze himself into government.
Odinga has repeatedly denied claims that he is out looking for a handshake with President Ruto.
-Teams-
The Azimio coalition and the Kenya Kwanza Alliance have since both unveiled a seven-strong member committee team that will spearhead the bipartisan negotiations.
The Azimio Coalition announced that lawmakers Ledama Ole Kina, Edwin Sifuna, Enoch Wambua, Amina Mnyanzi, Millie Adhiambo, David Pkosing, and Otiende Amollo will be their members.
Those in Kenya Kwanza include Members of Parliament Bonny Khalwale, George Murugara, Essy Okenyuri, Mwengi Mutuse, Lydia Haika, Hillary Sigei, and Adan Keynan.
The National Assembly is on Tuesday afternoon set to debate the membership of the committee and pass the list.
Once passed, the committee will sit and come up with the terms of reference that will dictate its conduct and manner of engagement.
Odinga who kept a low profile during the Easter holiday period is yet to announce what steps his coalition will be taking especially following the lapse of the seven-day deadline that he had issued to President Ruto.
With the two leaders ruling out the possibility of a working arrangement or better yet the handshake, what will become of them in the days and years to come, and who will blink first amid threats of a return of protests? That’s the big question that only time will tell.
About The Author
