Raila pushes for 2008 Kofi Annan-Like Negotiation Deal, UDA insists on No Handshake

 

Raila Odinga and William Ruto

On Tuesday, April 4, members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) told Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio, not to campaign and force for the National Accord and Reconciliation Act of 2008 to be brought back to life.

In their announcement, UDA condemned Raila and, indeed, the administration of Azimio for trying to deceive the country under the cover of demonstrations to bring down the cost of living.

"Raila must not see the President's offering of an act of good faith during this holy month as an indication of weakness."

"We call upon the Azimio leader to recognize the existence of a sovereign state in Kenya going to deliver the campaign promises towards the voting population and incorporating its pre-election agenda," cautioned UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, attaching that President William Ruto had not asked for a negotiated settlement out of fear.

"We call upon the Azimio leader to recognize that there is a legitimate government in Kenya," Malala said.

He went on to claim that Raila has always desired a portion of the country for himself, some kind of power-sharing arrangement, or Nusu Mkate.

" Hon. Raila Odinga's comments have confirmed what we already thought: that Maadamano wasn't even real from the start. Instead, it was a clear attempt to get power through the back door. This is a confirmation of our greatest worries."

According to a statement that read, in part, "In making these ridiculous claims, Raila Odinga has proved his determination to do so. Raila Odinga has demonstrated his desire to hold the Bipartisan Parliamentary Mechanism in captivity."

On Tuesday, April 4, UDA made a statement that was similar to what Ruto had said the day before in Rwanda. It said that any talks with the opposition will be based only on the constitution.

"Living in utopia while simultaneously having a delusion in broad daylight is the equivalent of forming any entity that is not legally recognized by the constitution or statutory legislation.

In response to the bipartisan position, the party said, "We want to say unequivocally that, as a party, we will not support any procedure that goes beyond the scope of the constitution or breaks the law as it is written."

In a previous comment, Raila said that he didn't agree with Ruto's idea that only the chambers of parliament should be used for discussions.

"A purely parliamentary procedure won't achieve the desired goal in regard to the issues we have raised."On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, he made the following statement: "Our recommendation is to have a dialogue at the national level via a procedure that is analogous to the 2008 National Accord."

Ruto had already said unequivocally, when he was giving a speech in Rwanda, that there was going to be no merger of the administration and the opposition.

"A handshake takes on a different connotation inside our setting. It is a political structure in which the opposition and the government work together to form a hybrid entity in which accountability does not exist. "

The President had detailed his concept for a strategy that would include both parties by saying, "We aren't interested in going back to this type of system of governing."

Raila, who seemed to be in accord with Ruto, said that he had no interest in shaking hands of any kind, even a formal handshake.

"Our members of parliament will negotiate with their legislators, but there will also be an administrative committee that the negotiating team will have to answer to."

He said that there wouldn't be a handshake in Parliament, but that people would talk to each other instead.