Governance and Political Analyst Arnold Maliba has poked holes in latest demand by the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance leader Raila Odinga, that he will not engage with President William Ruto in absence of a mediator.
Reacting to President Ruto’s offer for a dialogue, Raila claimed that the Head of State cannot be trusted, saying there must be a witness, remarks that have attracted mixed reactions.
In his Thursday interview with NTV, Maliba argued that it is not in order for Raila to call a mediator if his issue is to deal with the high cost of living.
In support of remarks by leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, Maliba claimed that Raila is mostly eyeing a ‘nusu mkate’ or a handshake just like he did in the past.
Maliba further held the view that Raila has been holding the country at ransom every election cycle for the government of the day to come up with an extra-constitutional process to appease him.
“I think there is a ‘Raila exception’ when it comes on matters the Constitution in that we give ourselves a Constitution, but if it does not please Raila Odinga we set it aside and then come up with an extra-constitutional process to appease him.”
“It started in 1997 during Moi’s era, then 2002 when we had an MOU, later came 2007/2008 MOU the nusu mkate. In 2018 he forced a handshake after refusing to take part in the repeat elections, and now in 2023 he is asking to meet President Ruto in presence of a mediator yet his issue is on high cost of living.”
Maliba further noted that the issues being advanced by the opposition can be dealt with through parliament and not by mediation.
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