Ruto To Talk About Issues Affecting Kenyans In A 6-day National Dialogue
President William Ruto announced on Tuesday that a six-day multi-sectoral dialogue forum will begin on Monday, July 15, to discuss issues that concern Kenyan citizens.
Ruto told journalists at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi that the forum will include representatives from political parties, religious groups, civil society, employers, and youth.
“In the interest of making sure we live within our means; all participants will bear their attendance costs. This is a result of consultations we have held this morning,” he said.
Stakeholders must submit their representatives by Friday this week, Ruto added.
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga says they have agreed to dialogue with President William Ruto’s government following weeks of Gen Z-driven protests.
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) July 9, 2024
Many Kenyan youth say neither Ruto nor Raila speaks for them and they will not be a part of the dialogue pic.twitter.com/ZhTyX5LTzv
The President stated that the forum “will propose a way forward for the country.”
Ruto spoke after approving the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
We welcome every stakeholder to work with us in addressing the existential challenges and threats facing Kenya. Through broad-based political mechanism, we can rally the country forward.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 9, 2024
At KICC, Nairobi, assented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)… pic.twitter.com/spYOpQvsyV
The Bill arose from recommendations by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), which was formed following a disputed 2022 presidential election results that saw a section of the IEBC Commissioners disown Ruto’s election victory results.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who leads opposition lawmakers, backed Ruto’s dialogue push, calling it “the best way forward out of the crisis we are having today as a country.”
“We will give people an opportunity to be heard,” Odinga said, adding that it will provide a platform for Kenyans to air their grievances and table issues they think are ailing the country towards “a lasting solution.”
“There are many issues affecting Kenyans but all of them are solvable,” said the former prime minister.
“Unemployment, corruption, ethnicity, debt and the management of the economy are issues we need to talk about.”
The forum comes on the heels of deadly nationwide protests against taxation and President Ruto’s leadership.
Protests began last month against the unpopular Finance Bill, 2024, in which Ruto’s government sought to raise an additional Ksh.346 billion in revenue through higher taxes.
However, they persisted even after Ruto declined to assent to the proposed law on June 26 due to public pressure.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reports that more than 39 people were killed during the demonstrations.
Ruto To Talk About Issues Affecting Kenyans In A 6-day National Dialogue
