The Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) party leader David Ochieng has opposed the national multi-sectoral dialogue whose fate hangs in the balance.
Speaking during the party’s delegates conference in Kitale on Monday, July 15, 2024, the Ugenya member of parliament poured cold water on the dialogue, saying the reforms to be effected do not need any conversation.
“We want to tell the president and Raila Odinga that this is not the time for dialogue, this is the time to work for the Kenyan people and meet their needs. The government should ensure university students get loans, farmers get fertilizers and seeds in time and corruption is stemmed,” Ochieng said.
MDG, which is an affiliate party in the Kenya Kwanza government, maintained their stand on the planned national conversation, stating that politicians are the only beneficiaries of dialogues while the ordinary people continue suffering.
He advised President William Ruto to focus on delivering his mandate and avoid the conversations with Odinga and Kalonzo.
The remarks come after the planned dialogue failed to kick off officially, after its major proponents including Odinga, changed their mind.
Dialogue runs into headwinds
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, while at a funeral in Kakamega County, Odinga expressed his opposition to the dialogue he called for, saying the talks should be among Kenyans themselves and not involve Ruto.
Odinga also noted that he turned down an invitation to the State House for the signing of the IEBC bill and instead negotiated for a neutral ground at KICC.
“What we are saying as Azimio is that we can never sit and discuss with those whose hands are full of blood. Those who kill Kenyans are very evil. This is a government that has lost its mind and direction. There will be no dialogue. We want action,” Odinga said on Sunday, July 15, 2024, at Kware in Embakasi.
Speaking in Nyandarua County on Sunday, Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua steered clear of the planned national dialogue.
Ruto had earlier indicated that the dialogue would include 150 people from the various sectors of the country, with the youth forming a third of the total delegation.
The youth, however, threw a spanner in the works by refusing to participate in the talks.
The youth want Parliament dissolved and the President to step down. They also want the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to be expeditiously reconstituted to recall some of the members of Parliament.
For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.
Telegram: https://t.me/peopledailydigital
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va698juDOQIToHyu1p
