Azimio Leader Raila Odinga has declared his stand on the bipartisan report submitted by the National Dialogue Committee.
In a statement on Wednesday, November 29, the opposition leader detailed that he had made the decision to agree to disagree on some crucial matters presented by the report.
However, he noted that the document was imperfect but was a great beginning towards building trust between the opposition and the government.
“Trust returned in their ranks and they were then able to show a strong commitment to peace and reconciliation and the strengthening of institutions and governance processes in Kenya.
“We will be engaging Kenyans further in the coming weeks as we must because the pain of the cost of living is really unbearable,” he stated.
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Raila Disagrees with the Following
Further, Odinga disagreed with some aspects of the report which he noted were fundamental issues that mattered to Kenyans across the political divide.
The most important matter according to him was the reduction of the cost of living which he noted was not addressed to his satisfaction.
“The two teams were unable to agree on the need and the means to reduce the cost of living. This is why we have described the document the Committee presented as imperfect and unfinished,” he stated.
Odinga blamed the Kenya Kwanza government for the failure in addressing the high cost of living stating that the administration was not open to that discussion from the beginning.
“The Kenya Kwanza administration was adamant that cost of living would never be taken to the discussion table, let alone being discussed.
“We had hoped that as the talks progressed while life got harder for Kenyans, Kenya Kwanza leaders could have the empathy, soften their hearts and agree to lessen the burden their policies had imposed on Kenyans,” added Odinga.
In addition, he revealed that the Kenya Kwanza team dismissed the issue adding that it was only because they used the high cost of living to enable corruption.
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“Apparently, as the regime’s economic policies hardened life for Kenyans, so did the regime harden its heart.
They told our team that cost of living was a government issue; that they have a manifesto and the mandate of the people of Kenya to implement it,” he stated.
Azimio Issues Way Forward
On the other hand, the opposition leader stated that it will be consulting with the people on the next steps to take to ensure that the cost of living was reduced.
“We will seek other way to press the government to listen to the cries of the people and bring down the cost of living. The other ways will include but will not be limited to consultations with the people.
“At all times, we will retain the right to call on the people to take steps that we deem necessary to force the government to lower the cost of living.
Addressing the formation of the office of opposition, Raila called for a referendum to allow Kenyans to have a say on the matter.
“To create the office of the leader of opposition or to formalize the office of the prime cabinet secretary, the people of Kenya have to have their say by way of a
referendum.
Besides it is a constitutional requirement that such significant restructuring of government must go through a referendum to avoid the mischief that may be played by some people going to court.
