Looming handshake: Ruto, Raila allies panic as talks shape up

Talks between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga have drawn criticism from key members of the Kenya Kwanza cabinet.
The big guns who were influential in helping President Ruto win the most recent presidential election warned against discussion with the opposition, saying that it would derail the Kenya Kwanza agenda. Since Raila has yet to recognize Ruto as president, suggested 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.
Wetang’ula stated on Sunday that carrying out their agenda would assist cut Kenyans’ cost of living rather than meeting ‘strange people’ in odd places. 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.
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 only globalizing his election defeat. Kenya is not in a crisis like Sudan,” claimed Mudavadi.
Kimani Ichung’wah, the majority leader of the National Assembly, stated that the discussions will center on the concerns that have been presented. He did so while reiterating the government’s dedication to bringing about peace. We will begin a discourse to address the five challenges under the direction of the two coalition leaders, while the people of Kenya still have concerns about the expense of living.
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 Head of State, it is my responsibility to make sure that everyone in Kenya is guaranteed a life free from violence,” said Ruto.
According to reports, Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, was there when Ruto and Raila met last Friday in Mombasa.