Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on Sunday emphasized that 'justice' is a necessary condition for any negotiations with the government following lethal confrontations. Meanwhile, President William Ruto cautioned that continued unrest could 'destroy' the nation. The initially peaceful protests that began last month against proposed tax increases escalated into violence, resulting in numerous fatalities after some demonstrators stormed parliament. In response, Ruto postponed his tax reforms and called for a national dialogue.
'Justice must be the priority before any talks,' Odinga declared on Sunday. He further demanded 'compensation for every victim of police brutality' during the protests. Despite Ruto's concessions, protests have persisted across the country, with the opposition now calling for new demonstrations next week.
'I promise it will end. Enough is enough,' Ruto stated on Sunday. A court recently halted a police attempt to ban protests in the central area of Nairobi. Ruto pledged to halt the actions of 'looters' and 'killers' whom he accused of endangering the nation.
'We aim for a peaceful, stable nation. Our issues should be addressed through democratic means,' Odinga, 79, who was defeated by Ruto in the 2022 presidential election, said. He advocated for a 'national conversation' involving various sectors of society. Such discussions, he mentioned on X, 'should include representatives from youth, government, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and teachers.'
On Friday, Ruto introduced a new partial cabinet aimed at forming a 'broad-based' government to alleviate the most severe crisis he has faced in nearly two years in office. However, the main opposition coalition quickly dismissed these cabinet changes as 'cosmetic' and affirmed that they would not participate in a national unity government led by Ruto.
