Raila Urges Young Kenyans To Call Off Protests And Embrace Dialogue With Ruto
Raila Odinga, leader of the Orange Democratic Movement(ODM), has continued to call for a constructive national dialogue, claiming that it is the right thing to do to resolve the country’s problems.
Speaking in Siaya County, where he endorsed a government of national unity, Odinga stated that the opposition’s conditions include compensation for protest victims.
Odinga attended the burial of High Court Advocate Evans Orwenjo in Alego Usonga, Siaya County.
Odinga has raised several issues, including compensating victims of this year’s and last year’s protests, as well as paying all hospital medical bills for victims of police brutality.
The ODM leader also demanded the unconditional release of all protestors in police custody, the dismissal of all pending charges in court, and the removal of all police officers involved in brutality.
We want a new Kenya. The people of Kenya deserve a new Kenya. We support the Gen Z demands; they are the demands of Kenyans. Our proposed way forward is let's meet at Bomas and reset Kenya for the prosperity of all. pic.twitter.com/838gtiJty4
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) July 27, 2024
“Kenya is at a critical juncture we either move forward or perish because we don’t want to perish that is why I proposed that conversation and that is what I proposed that takes cognizance of the demographic profile of our nation and that there are several issues that need to be discussed at that convention,” he said.
According to Odinga, the issues raised by young protesters are not new, citing rampant corruption, unemployment, high living costs, debt management, and discrimination as the major reasons for their demonstrations last year.
He endorsed the new government formation, which has nominated opposition members to cabinet positions.
“The basis of that kind of elaborate process then we can talk about a gov’t of national unity and we say that if you want to take some of our experts and get into your gov’t we release them to join your gov’t and work according to the ethics of our party ODM and Azimio,” said Odinga.
The Azimio chief, who is also eyeing the African Union Commission Chairmanship, has called for a closer look at the Constitution and, if necessary, changes to allow for a more progressive nation.
“Kenyans met at the Bomas of Kenya and deliberated for a very long time and came up with a very progressive constitution,” he added.
“That constitution was bastardized to a certain extent during the so-called Naivasha process we must go back to the Bomas draft constitution put it back on the table and see how what needs to be cleaned up so that we can have a progressive constitution.”
The president has named ODM’s two deputy party leaders, the party’s chairman, and the National Assembly Minority Leader to his cabinet. They are now awaiting approval by Parliament.
Raila Urges Young Kenyans To Call Off Protests And Embrace Dialogue With Ruto
