Sanity must prevail as Azimio, Kenya Kwanza begin negotiations

The decision by the leaderships of the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja Coalition to hold talks on key issues that have been catalaysing violence in the name of maandano has dissipated a heavy, dark and ominous political cloud has been hanging over the country.

It is a demonstration of statesmanship and patriotism by President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga. Their move to place the country above their personal interests and those of their supporters is laudable.

Once again, Kenyans have shown that despite their political persuasions and other socio-economic challenges, they can rise to the occasion and embrace the tenets of democracy.

While some may say it has come too late after the needless loss of lives, destruction of property and disruption of economic re-engineering, it is a welcome move.

Hopefully, this will be the last of the post-poll anxieties that Kenya will ever be subjected to. The five-a-side deliberations co-chaired by former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah will bear fruit.

The hopes of Kenyans of goodwill, friends of Kenya and a keen international community are pinned on the Bomas talks to exorcise the demon of political uncertainty that has been stalking us since the August 2022 General Election.

Hats off to Raila for climbing down from his erstwhile hardline political stance and giving dialogue a chance. His decision did not certainly go down well with the political hawks in his Azimio ranks but he has demonstrated leadership. This, too, is true on the President’s Kenya Kwanza side.

All Kenyans should give the negotiating team the space to confront contentious issues and resolve them. We need to get back to our business of fixing the myriad socio-economic challenges, especially the cost of living and food insecurity.

What we should demand of the political elite is for them to deliver on their promises. We have the power and legal instruments to hold them to account. And because they know this, and that is why they engage us in needless and costly power games to our detriment.

As the constitutionally elected 5th President of the Republic of Kenya, Ruto is the leader of Kenyans and that is what it will be for the next four years before we can again audit his performance in the 2027 poll.
I commend him for vowing to serve all Kenyans regardless of how they voted. That is true democracy.
In the spirit of democracy, the Kalonzo-Ichungwa-led teams must rise above their political insularities and deliver a peace deal.

— The writer is the former President of Football Kenya Federation