Jubilee SG Kioni rejects Ruto’s planned national dialogue
By Arnold Ngure, July 9, 2024
Jubilee party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has rejected the calls for a national dialogue saying the country has had several dialogues without much being achieved.
In a X statement on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Kioni observed that the dialogue agenda – which has been initiated by President William Ruto and backed by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga – is a tool being used by the state to preserve itself against the imminent threat posed by the recent spate of protests.
“The Waki report, the Ndungu report, TJRC report, BBI report, the NADCO report, all this were done under “dialogues” How many more? The writing is on the wall! Implement the Constitution,” Kioni remarked.
Kioni exposes politicians
Kioni, a fierce critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration, said that the government has proven over the years its inaction on reports and was using politicians to achieve longevity in power.
“They strategically deploy the political class like pawns, engaging them in different actions disguised as necessary measures in the name dialogues and reports that push the boundaries of acceptable violence and political grandstanding,” Kioni added.
Kioni’s remarks come after President Ruto revealed that a national dialogue will occur to iron out issues that have bedevilled the country for the last three weeks.
Ruto stated that the national multi-sectoral forum will begin on Monday, June 15, 2024, and run through Saturday, July 20, 2024.
Top of the agenda set to be discussed at the meeting are governance, rampant corruption in the country and youth unemployment.
Also, the discussions will involve the ballooning public debt and how to ensure sustainable borrowing.
Dialogue stage set
The national event will bring 150 drawn from different sectors of the country and economy including the youth, representatives from various religious organisations, members of the civil society, professional bodies and members of the political class.
The youth will be allocated 50 seats in the discussions, but a section of them have expressed their reservations about the planned dialogue.
“We’ve agreed that to bring the country together, we will move ahead with the multi-sectoral forum,” Ruto said.
His sentiments were echoed by ODM leader Raila Odinga who said the time was right for the planned discussions.
“We have agreed that we give people an opportunity to be heard, to express themselves so that a lasting solution can be found,” Odinga noted.
The Azimio la Umoja leader also added that the delegates will have to cater for their respective expenses of attending the meeting in the spirit of cutting costs.
“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 added.
For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.
Telegram: https://t.me/peopledailydigital
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va698juDOQIToHyu1p