NAIROBI – President William Ruto has extended an olive branch to Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who has been leading anti-government protests.
In a Twitter post that appeared to have been signed off by the President himself, he said he was ready to meet the Azimio la Umoja Coalition leader at anytime of his convenience.
“My friend @RailaOdinga ,am off to Tanzania for a human capital meeting to harmonise the expansion of employment opportunities in our continent. Am back tomorrow evening, and as you have always known, am available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience. WsR,” President Ruto tweeted.
The tweet came barely hours after Raila on Tuesday told a joint press conference organised by International Press Association of East Africa that Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan was in Kenya for two days on invitation by Ruto to try broker a deal but was snubbed.
” The President of Tanzania came here two weeks ago at the invitation of President Ruto to mediate and she was kept waiting. She was kept waiting. We were available but the other faction was not available. Suluhu spent two nights here but it was all in vain,” Raila said.
“I have said I am ready to sit with the people and discuss these issues. Ruto is actually pretending, and he is living in delusion that we don’t have a crisis,” Raila said, adding that other quarters, local and international, have been pushing for talks.
However, Foreign Affairs principal Secretary Korir Singoei denied that Suluhu was snubbed, telling NTV that there are clear protocols of how visiting heads of state are handled during official and private visits,
“The treatment Hon Odinga is talking about didn’t happen,” Korir said.
Raila told journalists that it is Kenya Kwanza administration 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.
A Twitter user by the handle @mwabilimwagodi on July 14 tweeted, “By the way, what was President Samia Suluhu Hassan doing in Nanyuki? She has stayed there for a few nights. The visit wasn’t even publicised by her team or our GOK despite being welcomed by President Ruto when she landed there”.
Some senior government officials and opposition leaders are said to have met the Tanzanial leader.
MEDIATION EFFORTS
Vatious groups, among them religious leaders, media organisations and international community have called for a truce between the government and the opposition.
However, hardliners in the President’s camp, among them Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Trade Minister Moses Kuria and National Assembly Majority leader have variously said no talks will happen between Ruto and Raila.
Last Friday, diplomats from the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Denmark met Azimio la Umoja principal and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka at his Karen home.
On Tuesday, 13 ambassadors and high commissioners representing Australia, Denmark, Germany, the US, Netherlands, Sweden, Ukraine, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK also expressed their concern over loss of life and high levels of violence and the destruction of property in the ongoing protests and called for dialogue.
“We recognise the daily hardship faced by many Kenyans and urge all parties to table their concerns through a meaningful dialogue and resolve their differences peacefully to build the nation together, ensuring no further loss of life. We stand ready to support the parties in their efforts to find constructive and peaceful solutions,” they said in a statement.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned against interference with internal affairs.
Commonwealth sustains pressure on Ruto to dialogue with Raila, envoys meet Kalonzo
