Raila dismisses private sector alliance, snubs leaders’ summit

Dennis Tarus

December 5, 2016 5:37 AM

Cord leader Raila Odinga over the weekend snubbed a joint leaders summit organised by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) saying that the opposition was not consulted for the peace strategy meeting.

Cord leader Raila Odinga (above) snubbed a joint leaders summit organised by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) saying that the opposition was not consulted for the peace strategy meeting.

He said there were no proper arrangements done with the opposition and dismissed the private sector alliance as not having the requisite impartiality to lead a national non-partisan discourse on the topics under discussion.

He further claimed that KEPSA was as an appendage of the Jubilee Administration.

“Over the last several years, KEPSA has not shown any interest to discuss with the Opposition the concerns they have regarding peaceful elections, national cohesion and unity,” Raila said.

Cosmetic appearance

He said that the alliance had never shown interest in Cord’s public engagements, on their programs beyond cosmetic appearance at best and they had not treated the Opposition as a legitimate entity with meaningful contribution to our national development.

“The only time we get to hear from you is when the disagreements over national issues between the government and the Opposition generate political heat that threatens the tranquility in which the interest of KEPSA’s members thrive,” he said.

The Cord leader said that apart from KEPSA snubbing them, the alliance had been available to engage the government on these same issues and to support its programs to the exclusion of the Opposition.

Rampant corruption

He said that while the Opposition continues to put pressure on the National Government to exhibit the political will to deal with corruption in public offices, KEPSA went into a partnership with the president to divert attention away from the government by blaming members of the public as co- conspirators in the corruption engaged in by public officers.

“This is the same impartiality you have practiced on the issue of elections. Your last concern on this matter was when we were holding public protests to force the government to accept electoral reforms. We did not see KEPSA’s interest at all in Opposition’s attempt to introduce electoral reforms by way of referendum,” Raila added.

He blamed the alliance for going “underground” once negotiations for electoral reforms began only to resurface now after new conflicts have emerged concerning the government’s commitment to the implementation of the issues agreed on in the negotiation.

Dennis Tarus