Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says that Before any talks between the government and the opposition, opposition leader Raila Odinga must officially acknowledge William Ruto as the President.
gachagua stated on Sunday during a church service in Mathira, Nyeri County, that the azimio la Umoja coalition leader, who has openly referred to the Kenya Kwanza government as illegitimate, must formally acknowledge Ruto as the president of Kenya
Gachagua claims that before they can even agree to meet the opposition leader, he must publicly declare that William Ruto is the president of Kenya. He went on to say, How do you talk to someone who does not recognize your legitimacy? Tell your elected representatives to talk to ours.
He went on to tell the crowd that they couldn't talk to Raila. On what basis? In Kenya, who is he? He is just a regular citizen. But he is welcome to come if he has personal concerns, and we will listen to him. But we can only meet with Raila Odinga if he exists in Kenya. No one has elected him.
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The azimio la Umoja coalition leader called off the bi-weekly anti-government protests he had been staging for the past two weeks last Sunday, saying he is ready for the conversation to address the opposition's critical issues with Ruto's government.
It follows President Ruto's earlier request to Odinga to halt the protests and instead pursue talks toward a bipartisan parliamentary procedure for appointing commissioners to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. (IEBC).
On Thursday, the opposition announced its seven-member team during the coalition's Parliamentary Group meeting in Machakos to engage in bipartisan parliamentary dialogue.
Members of the parliamentary group include Ledama Ole Kina, Edwin Sifuna, Enock Wambua, Amina Mnyazi, David Pkosing, Millie Odhiambo and Otiende Amollo.
Odinga has threatened to return to the streets if the bipartisan discussions fail to provide a "meaningful outcome."
