Opposition leader Raila Odinga has made a U-turn and announced he will not proceed with the dialogue calls between the government and Generation Z protestors.
The former Prime Minister spoke on Wednesday, July 10 when he met young leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement.
Raila said he has been told that youths don’t want dialogue or handshake and their message is home.
“Nimeambiwa na hawa viongozi kwamba mumesema hamtaki handshake. Ujumbe umefika,” Raila Odinga said.
On Tuesday, July 9 Raila was criticised for urging the youth to dialogue with the government.
The former Prime Minister was speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), where he and other opposition politicians witnessed the assent of the IEBC Bill 2024 into law.
Odinga said the opposition agreed to dialogue with President William Ruto’s government.
This follows weeks of Gen Z-driven protests across the country.
The demonstrations led to the death of over 20 protesters and hundreds of others injured.
“The best way forward out of the crisis we are having today as a country,” Raila said.
His statement at KICC led to outrage with many accusing him of becoming a sellout.
Kenyan youth said neither Ruto nor Raila speaks for them.
They declared they would not be a part of the dialogue being suggested.
In late June, President William Ruto announced in a televised address at the State House that he wouldn’t be signing the Finance Bill 2024.
This was after countrywide protests led by Gen Z protestors.
The President said he has conceded and heard the will of the people.
