The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party has issued fresh demands to President William Ruto following his decision to dismiss all Cabinet Secretaries (CS) after dissolving his Cabinet.
ODM in a statement on Friday, July 12, 2024, issued the demands following a meeting of the Central Management Committee chaired by Party Leader and Azimio-la-Umoja Coalition leader Raila Odinga.
According to the party, this meeting took place in an aim to review the current affairs in the country, coming against the backdrop of the dismissal of the entire Cabinet by President Ruto.
The Head of State had on Thursday announced the decision to dissolve his Cabinet, noting that consultation across different sectors and political formations with a view to forming “a broad-based inclusive government that can assist in transforming Kenya” would follow.
While welcoming the move, ODM however demanded for President Ruto to immediately fire the Inspector General (IG) of Police Japhet Koome among other police commanders.
Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei was also highlighted by the party which called for his dismissal.
ODM Issues Statement After Ruto Dissolves Cabinet
Further, the Raila Odinga-led party demanded for all officers implicated in the murders of Kenyans to be apprehended.
“In order for us to have this National conversation, we call on the Government to take certain immediate steps to create the necessary environment. The decision to fire his cabinet was a good start in our view.
But the feeling across the country is that there still exists an atmosphere of fear that makes it impossible for people to speak freely,” the statement reads.
Also Read: President William Ruto Dissolves Cabinet
“Ruto must immediately fire the IG of Police, the Nairobi Police commander and apprehend all Police Officers implicated in the murders of the over 200 innocent Kenyans in peaceful protests since last year.”
The party at the same time called for a national amnesty for all persons arrested or charged in connection with protests, and compensation for all victims of police brutality.
ODM has welcomed the developments occasioned by Cabinet dismissal in the hope that they will mark the beginning of honest and earnest efforts to address the myriad issues expressed by Kenyans.
Way Forward
The party however faulted the developments to a failure by the government to listen Kenyans, warning that they cannot be resolved by repeating the same attitude.
Also Read: ODM Responds to Uproar Over Raila’s Call for Dialogue
While addressing concerns about embracing dialogue, the orange party has maintained that it will engage in any talks provided that the destiny of Kenya is the main agenda.
“ODM will not object to the presence of any other person or group of people on that table no matter how outrageously different their view of the world is from ours.
This conversation in our view must come ahead of other conversations on the structure of our national governance going forward,” the statement adds.
The party has maintained that emerging issues and the urgent need to address them is not about rescuing the Kenya Kwanza regime, rather a chance to rescue the nation and pull it back from the precipice.
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