Religious leaders and the international community have been calling on President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga to engage in dialogue to end ongoing bi-weekly protests.
For instance, US Senator Christopher Coons on Wednesday, March 29, visited Kenya on Wednesday, March 29 for high-level meetings.
The senator who engineered the handshake between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio leader Raila Odinga in 2018 led a US delegation in meeting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Azimio leader Raila Odinga separately.
In both closed-door meetings, the agenda for fostering democracy and bringing peace and stability to the country featured prominently.
However, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday, March 30, said the Kenya Kwanza government was ready to have a dialogue with the former Prime Minister.
Gachagua who was speaking in Mombasa when he commissioned some 500 Kenyan seafarers to join international shipping lines however said the discussions between the opposition leader and the government side should be about Raila’s retirement.
The second in command said the Kenya Kwanza government is not ready to discuss Raila’s entry into the government and insisted that the only way to get into power was through the ballot.
He said Raila has over the years been forcing his way into government through the backdoor.
The former Mathira MP cited four examples where Raila forcefully entered into government and instead of helping he destroyed it.
“This man has used violence to get into government, year after year. This year again he is on a similar scheme to bring violence, destroy property and force his way into government.
“We are willing to sit with Raila but not to discuss his forceful entry into government,” Gachagua said.
