Roots Party of Kenya leader George Wajackoyah has explained why his group abruptly left a meeting of the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
The opposition coalition was set to meet on July 17, 2024, to discuss its stance on engaging with President William Ruto's government.
Wajackoyah stated that they decided to leave the meeting because they firmly disagreed with how the coalition was handling constitutional issues.
During the previous day's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the Roots Party of Kenya resolved not to support the dialogue with Ruto.
The disagreement highlights the ongoing tension within the Azimio alliance, as different factions seek to determine the best response to the government's call for dialogue.
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The Roots Party holds strong opinions on various national issues and consistently advocates for more radical changes, which frequently leads to conflicts with other coalition members.
Discussions at the meeting focused on addressing Kenya's most pressing social and political problems.
Meanwhile, the Roots Party's decision to leave underscores the difficulty the opposition faces in reaching a consensus. Wajackoyah emphasized that the party's choice was rooted in its principles and the interests of its supporters. "We are dedicated to our beliefs and the goals of our followers," he stated.
According to him, "we can't support a dialogue that doesn't fit with our vision for Kenya." This position has started a new political debate about how useful and sincere the planned dialogue really is.
Members of the Azimio alliance, including prominent leaders, continue to advocate for talks with President Ruto. They assert that dialogue is essential to addressing the country's most pressing issues, such as economic instability, poor governance, and low trust in institutions.
