Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who is also the Secretary General of the ODM party, has revealed Raila Odinga’s strategy for dealing with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other hardliners in the Kenya Kwanza coalition during bipartisan talks.
Speaking during an interview, Sifuna stated that Raila instructed his team to avoid engaging in public confrontations with Ruto’s supporters and not to say anything that could jeopardize the proposed dialogue.
Sifuna explained that Azimio, Raila’s party, is ignoring remarks made by Gachagua, economist David Ndii, and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah regarding the Raila-Ruto truce. He stated that they have identified certain leaders in Kenya Kwanza who they should neither listen to nor respond to. Azimio will only directly engage with the President, who initiated the truce.
Sifuna pointed out that Gachagua was by Ruto’s side when he was extending an olive branch to Raila and that if Gachagua had reservations, he could have spoken then. On Thursday, Gachagua remarked that he would dissociate himself from the dialogue process should the President have a handshake with Raila, a sentiment backed by Ichung’wah, who declared that handshake was not an option.
Both sides have already unveiled their teams to face off in the bipartisan talks.
