Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari jijini Nairobi nchini Kenya, Waziri Mkuu wa Zamani wa Nchi hiyo na Kiongozi wa Upinzani, Raila Odinga amesema jitihada za kutafuta suluhu ya mgogoro unaoendelea kulitafuna taifa zilifanywa sio tu na jamii wa Wakenya peke yao bali hata Matifa jirani ambapo amefichua kuwa Rais wa Tanzania, Mhe Samia Suluhu Hassan alifika nchini Kenya wiki mbili zilizopita kwa lengo la kuongoza mazungumzo ya usuluhishi.
Hata hivyo Odinga ameonesha kusikitishwa kwake akisema licha ya Rais Samia kukaa Kenya kwa siku mbili upande wa Rais wa Kenya, Wiliam Ruto haukutokea kwenye mazungumzo hayo ingawa Rais Ruto ndiye alimualika Rais Samia.
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President William Ruto has thwarted efforts to mediate a political truce between Azimio la Umoja coalition and the ruling Kenya Kwanza party, opposition leader Raila Odinga has claimed.
Mr Odinga, speaking to the International Press Association of East Africa on Tuesday, said that many eminent people, both local and international, have tried in vain to bring the two together to help defuse rising tensions between the government and the opposition.
This impasse has led to a standoff between Dr Ruto and Mr Odinga who is spearheading weekly anti-government protests that have led to deaths, injuries, destruction of property and greatly affecting the economy.
Among those who have offered to mediate is Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, who Raila claims was kept waiting for days after travelling to Nairobi a fortnight ago to negotiate a ceasefire.
"The President of Tanzania came here two weeks ago at the invitation of President Ruto to mediate and she was kept waiting," says Mr Odinga.
"She spent two nights here and it was all in vain. Other people have tried, but he is the one who is resisting so basically knows what he wants."
The opposition chief says he is ready for talks with the government but accuses the president of being in denial.
"I myself have said I am ready to sit with other people to discuss these issues, he is actually pretending, he is living in delusion that we do not have a crisis. But we have a serious crisis that requires patriotism to resolve and we are ready ourselves," Mr Odinga told the foreign media.
Mr Odinga further accused the Kenya Kwanza team of thwarting all attempts to restore sanity to the nation clarifying that neither he nor his party has any desire to join Ruto's government.
"It is Kenya Kwanza that is frustrating any efforts to bring sanity to the country. We are not interested in being a part of the problems in government, we don’t want to eat their bread, all we want is for Kenyans get to put food on the table," he added.
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader went on to dismiss claims that anti-government protests are to blame for the country's skyrocketing living costs.
According to Odinga, the Kenyan economy has been battered by bad policies pushed by the Kenya Kwanza government and not the weekly protests that have agitated for a repeal of the Finance Act 2023 and the audit of the 2022 General Election.
“Economy is hurting, not because of demonstrations but because of the bad policies by Kenya Kwanza... they don’t care about the common people. Azimio would have handled situations in the country differently to the satisfaction of Kenyans,” he added.
"We are witnessing unprecedented police brutality. We are also witnessing an unprecedented phenomenon of the State resorting to armed militia to quell protests," he added.
"We have visited hospitals and morgues, and we have established that police and hired gangs have shot and killed or wounded scores of people at close range. Some have been shot from the back as they fled or in a position of surrender."
The coalition called on its supporters to come out and light candles and lay flowers for the victims of police brutality during previous demos.
Azimio says so far, 50 deaths have been reported with hundreds of others being injured and admitted to hospitals with serious injuries.
"Azimio has made the decision that on Wednesday, rather than go to the streets for a peaceful demonstration as earlier announced, we will hold solidarity parades and vigil for victims of police brutality in various locations in all parts of the country," reads the statement.
"We are calling Kenyans to come out and light candles and lay flowers in remembrance of and respect for the victims. During the vigils, candle lighting and laying of flowers, we encourage Kenyans to say prayers and read out the names of the victims of police brutality. We shall provide the list of the victims in time for the exercise."
Source:
Raila claims Ruto refused to meet President Suluhu for mediation talks, kept her waiting for two days