Uncertainty over national dialogue forum set from Monday after Raila backed out
President William Ruto, Raila Odinga and other leaders addressing the press at KICC shortly after President Ruto assented to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Bill. Photo I @WilliamsRuto/X
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.
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