Is Uhuru planning to meet Raila once he jets back from South Africa?

juma chrispinus

January 12, 2018 8:36 AM

According to Nasa, "Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka will be sworn-in on January 30, if there will be no talks".

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is currently in South Africa for bilateral talks with his counterpart Jacob Zuma, according to a local daily, has hinted at holding talks with NASA leader Raila Odinga.

Earlier Kenyatta had reiterated that he would not hold talks with Mr Odinga, if it will be premised on politics, but now seems to have taken a soft stance on the matter.

"We want to see political parties start to work together and partner in policy making as such partnerships will play a key role in reconnecting with people hence establishing stronger bonds," Uhuru said minutes after he held talks with Zuma in Durban on Thursday.

Ruled out talks

In the recent past, Jubilee has ruled out any possibility of holding talks with Nasa leadership on what Nasa insisted mist be election-justice related.

In November 2017 when the two leaders met in a church function, the Head of State extended an olive branch to the former Premier.

“Kenyans must be given justice, and for electoral justice to be served, the vote must count. Votes cast at the polling stations must be the same votes announced at the tallying centers. Until we do that, there will be no justice,” Mr Kenyatta said earlier.

Electoral injustices

However, Mr Odinga, while indicating that he was willing to meet with the President, insisted that the opposition would only take part in talks aimed at addressing the electoral injustices.

Cabinet slots

Meanwhile, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, who seemed to change tune and demanded inclusion of key opposition leaders into government, urged Mr Kenyatta to pick renowned leaders from Opposition stronghold, including Ukambani and Nyanza region.

"I want to encourage my brother Uhuru and Ruto to climb from their pedal and allow a public conversation that will see the country move ahead. This country does not only belong to the two of you but 45 million Kenyans," Wetangula said adding that the current political problems cannot be exclusively solved by NASA or Jubilee.

juma chrispinus