Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua has weighed in on the planned multi-sectoral forum discussions slated for Monday, July 15, 2024, saying it is a trap.

In a statement on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Karua said dialogue can only be meaningful if the players have good faith and are guided by the best interests of the people.

“I agree with those who say action now on the clear and attainable demands of the Gen Zs to enhance accountability and make the state work for the masses rather than for a handful elites,” Karua noted, “This is a trap period,” she added.

Karua on hijacked meetings

Karua expressed her reservations about the inclusion of political leaders in the discussions, urging that the youth should be allowed to carry out the discussions on their own terms.

“Let’s be careful as the political class lest we hijack the genuine clamour for accountability and reforms by the GenZ,” Karua noted.

President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, revealed that the multi-sectoral forum would include 150 members drawn from different sectors.

“This forum will begin on Monday, next week and end on Saturday next week, it will be a 6-day forum and will propose the way forward for the country,” Ruto said.

On his part, Odinga noted that dialogue was the way forward for the country, after weeks of protests that culminated in the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill 2024.

“We have agreed that we give people an opportunity to be heard, to express themselves so that a lasting solution can be found,” Odinga said.

Odinga also noted that the meeting attendees would have to foot the costs of attending the six-day multi-sectoral national dialogue.

“In the interest of making sure we live within our means; all participants will bear their attendance costs. This is a result of consultations we have held this morning,” Odinga revealed.

However, a section of the youth on X has vowed to oppose the planned meetings, saying the political class has hijacked the discussions.

Among the issues set to top the agenda of the discussions are the management of public debt, usage of the funds and whether there was value for money in the loan negotiations.

Also, the meetings will discuss corruption and how the government would source funds without raising the cost of living.

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