Image: COURTESY
Talks between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga have drawn criticism from important members of the Kenya Kwanza cabinet.
The influential people who helped President Ruto win the most recent presidential election warned against discussion with the opposition, saying that it would derailed the Kenya Kwanza agenda.
Since Raila has yet to recognise Ruto as president, proposed negotiations with the opposition have been deemed a waste of time, according to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and his Senate colleague Amason Kingi.
“Meeting strange people in strange places will not help in lowering the cost of living for Kenyans but delivering on the plan will,” said Wetang'ula on Sunday.
The President attended a Sunday church service in Kwale where the former Bungoma senator spoke.
Kingi claimed that the discussions will "derail the government agenda".
"Even if Raila and Ruto hold talks, that will not reduce the cost of living. The only way to reduce the high cost of living is to allow the president time to implement his manifesto," said Kingi.
"Because they know that if the President implements his manifesto the cost of living will come down, they do not want to give him enough time."
Musalia Mudavadi, the prime cabinet secretary, claimed that Raila was "making issues in Kenya sound so international yet we don't have a problem."
“Raila is just internationalising his electoral loss. Kenya is not in a crisis like Sudan,” he said at the same church service.
Kimani Ichung'wah, the majority leader of the National Assembly, stated that the discussions will centre on the concerns that have been presented.
He did so while reiterating the government's dedication to bringing about peace.
''With the guidance of the leaders of the two coalitions, we shall embark on dialogue to solve the five issues, that is not to say that the cost of living is not an issue to the people of Kenya.''
According to the president, he had a conversation with the opposition leader during which "we agreed that no leader, past, present, or future, will ever use violence to harm Kenyans."
“As a Head of State, I am obligated to ensure that all Kenyans are guaranteed a life without violence,” he said.
According to reports, Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, was there when Ruto and Raila met last Friday in Mombasa.
