Nairobi News

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua maintains President William Ruto is not keen on engaging Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

Speaking at the Saba Saba primary school in Maragua constituency, the DP said the government respects the clergy’s opinion calling for dialogue between the two leaders on the current political stalemate.

He however warned that dialogue against Mr Odinga was not the best possible route towards solving the current challenges facing the country, as the opposition leader was out to ‘blackmail’ the government.

“How can you request us to fall into that trap?” posed Gachagua.

The DP clarified any possible dialogue between President Ruto and Mr Odinga must be done under clear terms of engagement.

He further accused Mr Odinga of messing up the governments of the late Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and the former president Uhuru Kenyatta after he pursued his personal interests during political talks.

His utterances come after the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) suggested a dialogue option between the two leaders.

The bishops complained the chest-thumping by the two leaders was not healthy for the country.

They also urged Mr Odinga to suspend the protests he has been leading in the country.

Mr Odinga has led countrywide protests against the government in the past week in a move he says is aimed at putting pressure at President William Ruto’s government to lower the cost of living and constitute electoral reforms.

The protests on March 20, 2023, left two people dead, several injured, and loss of property and businesses mainly in Nairobi and Kisumu.

Mr Odinga, who finished second to President Ruto in the August 2022 polls, has rubbished claims he is after selfish gains.

The seasoned politician has vowed to organise frequent protests until President Ruto heeds to his deamds.

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