Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, has backed the statement by his secretary General Edwin Sifuna as he issued a stern warning to ODM members, urging them not to join President William Ruto’s regime.
In responding to queries about members of ODM who are said to join the cabinet to be announced by the President, he clarified that he has not forwarded any names to the President for appointment to the cabinet.
Raila said his position and the one that had been taken by the party was that there were critical outstanding issues that needed to be addressed by the government before any form of engagement was entered into.
On Friday, Raila had issued a statement requiring that the government address some seven issues including:
- Cease threats against Gen-Z demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful protest.
- Compensate the families of Kenyans killed by police during this and previous protests.
- Immediately and unconditionally release all arrested political protesters.
- Drop all pending charges against protesters.
- Halt abductions and extrajudicial killings of protesters.
- Arrest and prosecute police officers involved in abductions and killings of protesters.
- Stop the reappointment of dismissed Cabinet Secretaries.
Earlier today, Edwin Sifuna, the ODM Secretary General issued a statement by the party stating that the party had not endorsed any member to be appointed to the cabinet. Sifuna informed the public that any member seeking such appointment are completely doing so on their own and against the ODM’s position.
On the current protests, Raila emphasized that both the party and the coalition are in solidarity with the issues being raised by the Gen-Zs, which seeks to address long standing governance issues.
“Our commitment to the causes championed by Gen-Z remains steadfast. These are the same issues we have long been fighting for, including during last year’s Maandamano protests,” Odinga stated.
Mr Odinga said he had proposed a national convention, to afford all Kenyans an opportunity to find a lasting solution to these long outstanding issues and chat a way forward
He therefore highlighted the importance of preparing for a national convention to ensure these outstanding issues are addressed. These issues include high cost of living, unemployment, corruption, ethnicity and tribalism in government employments other governance issues. He also said the plight of doctors and health workers must also be addressed immediately. Mr Odinga also stated that the issue of odious debt, the cost of education and high taxation must be addressed.
Mr Odinga identified procurement and revenue collection as a major source of corruption, contributing to Kenya’s economic and political crises.
“We know exactly where the problems lie in this government and the loopholes that successive governments have exploited to plunder taxpayers’ money. These issues were eradicated during the Government of National Unity, leading to economic growth under Kibaki’s administration. Unfortunately, these problems have resurfaced, and the Gen-Z movement is right to demand an end to them,” Odinga concluded.
Odinga clarified that the purpose of the convention is not to create new reports, but to look at modalities to implement over 26 reports that have been generated since Kenya’s independence, at the cost of taxpayers’ money but which remain unimplemented.
He said that the participants will take cognisance of Kenyans diversity.
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