Uncertainty over national dialogue forum set from Monday after Raila backed out

Two days after dissolving his Cabinet, yielding to pressure from the youth-led demonstrations, the national consultative forum called by President William Ruto and scheduled to begin on Monday remains on hold.

There is no clarity over where it was planned to happen and who was to attend amid opposition split and stakeholders who remain in the dark over the ambiguity associated with the talks.

While attending a church service in Nyandarua County, President Ruto, however, hinted at the formation of a unity government which he according to him will embody aspirations of Kenyans.

In an appreciation of failures by his immediate former Cabinet, President Ruto said he will reconstitute his Cabinet, striking a rather reassuring tone, of remaking his Cabinet with people he said will help him deliver.

"Pray for me that I get employees who will help me to actualize the promises I gave you. You want me to build a new government that will unite the entire nation?" he posed to the crowd.

"I will plan slowly I see who will help me. Hasn't it been said that some of them were from Nyeri, others from Kiambu, Murang'a? Is there any problem if one of them comes from Eldoret?"

Azimio leader Raila Odinga, despite appearing with the President when he made the call for the six-day marathon talks, has since opposed the talks, which would have onboarded 150 participants.

The proposed talks by the President were a response to the countrywide demonstrations driven by the Gen Zs, which confronted his administration leading to major concessions including the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024, scrapping state funding for the First Lady's office, lessening the number of government advisers and dissolving his entire Cabinet.

With the talks that were meant to resolve the crisis that mired the country now frozen, the government is presented with yet another dilemma on assuring a restive youthful base yearning for good governance and accountability.